Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Chirag Paswan’s LJP To Aggressively Court Dalit Votes With ‘Bahujan-Bheem Sankalp Samagam’; Plans To Contest Independently Within NDA
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is gearing up to reach out to all Dalit communities to bolster his party`s prospects in Bihar assembly election, due in October-November. Patna: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is gearing up to reach out to all Dalit communities to bolster his party`s prospects in Bihar assembly election, due in October-November. Dalits constitute 16.04 percent of the population of the state and play a dominant role in deciding the outcome of any poll in the state. On the other hand, Paswan is the second largest caste in Bihar after Yadav, as they constitute 5.311 percent of the state`s population. LJP (RV)`s state executive held a meeting in Patna on Friday and unanimously passed a resolution for Chirag playing a role of a prominent leader of Bahujan-Bheem Samaj. The party has also planned to organise ‘Bahujan-Bheem Sankalp Samagam’ to reach out to Dalits more aggressively. In another important issue, Chirag`s party through the resolution made it clear that it would contest the assembly election by keeping its independent identity intact. It is seen as LJP`s ploy to extract maximum number of seats from BJP in the assembly election. Chirag has asserted on several occasions that he would contest an election as an NDA ally. Former professor of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Pushpendra Kumar Singh said, “Chirag understands very well that his party’s growth in NDA will be limited if he depends only on Paswan votes and so he will definitely like to reach out to other Dalit castes.” Although Chirag apparently commands a significant support of his caste members (Paswans), the dynamics would change if his uncle and former union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras joins the I.N.D.I.A bloc and makes inroads into Paswan votes with the help of its allies like RJD, Congress and left parties, he noted. LJP leader is also facing challenge from Congress as the latter after appointing a Dalit (Mallikarjun Kharge) as its national president has now made a Dalit (Rajesh Kumar) its state president, he asserted. Another challenge is that after BSP supremo Mayawati losing much of her clout in Bihar, her party`s votes in the election are more likely to go to INDIA bloc, he claimed. “Chirag will prefer to field his party candidates on seats in the state polls, mainly falling under the Lok Sabha constituencies of his five MPs,” he remarked. Courtesy : Dheeraj Kumar, TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https://thefreepressjournal.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
‘Rok sako to rok lo’: Rahul Gandhi’s message to PM Modi, Nitish Kumar in Bihar
‘Rok sako to rok lo’: Rahul Gandhi’s message to PM Modi, Nitish Kumar in Bihar’Rok sako to rok lo’: Rahul Gandhi’s message to PM Modi, Nitish Kumar in Bihar NEW DELHI: “Nitish ji, Modi ji, rok sako to rok lo,” said Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, after he was stopped by police on his way to Ambedkar hostel in Bihar’s Darbhanga. However, the Congress leader managed to enter the premises amid political drama and questioned the chief minister, “what is he afraid of?” The incident occurred when Gandhi reached outside Ambedkar hostel. His convoy was stopped from entering the premises where he was scheduled to interact with students at the party’s ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ event. ‘Rok sako to rok lo’ Taking to X, he wrote in Hindi, “Nitish ji and Modi ji, stop me if you can – the storm of caste-based census will bring a revolution in social justice, education, and employment.” — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) ‘Double engine dhokebaaz sarkaar’ While addressing a gathering in Darbhanga, he called the NDA government in Bihar “double engine dhokebaaz sarkaar.” “The Bihar Police tried to stop me. But they could not stop me because your power (minority community) is watching over me. We told PM Narendra Modi that you have to conduct census. Under your pressure, PM Narendra Modi announced caste census in the country. Scared of your pressure, he placed the Constitution on his forehead. But their government is against democracy, the Constitution, and the minorities. This is the government of Adani-Ambani and not yours,” Gandhi said. “I guarantee that the moment our government forms in India and in Bihar, and implements everything that you deserve,” he added. ‘Nitish ji, what are you afraid of?’ In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi questioned Bihar CM Nitish and said, “NDA’s “double engine dhokebaaz sarkaar” in Bihar is preventing me from interacting with dalit and backward students in Ambedkar Hostel. Since when has dialogue become a crime? Nitish ji, what are you afraid of? Do you want to hide the state of education and social justice in Bihar?” — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) According to Congress, Gandhi’s car was stopped by police before reaching the hostel, prompting him to proceed on foot to meet the students. “India is a democracy, it is run by the Constitution, not by dictatorship! No one can stop us from raising our voice for social justice and education,” he posted on X. — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) ‘Pre-planned conspiracy’ Meanwhile, the Bihar Congress accused the district administration of attempting to sabotage the programme. Darbhanga deputy mayor Nazia Hasan called the last-minute cancellation of permission a “pre-planned conspiracy.” “If the administration did not want to grant us permission, they could have denied it the day we asked. But cancelling the permission at the last minute was a part of a pre-planned conspiracy. The preparations here had been going on for the last 4-5 days. The reason is that the government fears losing its seat in Darbhanga. They are scared that if Rahul Gandhi comes here, he will unite and motivate the youth. Rahul Gandhi does not require a mic or a stage for his voice to be heard. A street and a crossroad are sufficient for him,” Hassan told ANI. National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) president Varun Choudhary echoed the criticism, calling the JDU-BJP government “anti-Dalit and anti-students.” He claimed the event was sabotaged after the administration learned that a large number of students planned to attend. “This shows that the JDU-BJP government is anti-Dalit and anti-students… The students have declared they will only get up from here once they meet Rahul Gandhi. What is the JDU-BJP government scared of? The truth is that the students will reveal their poor condition under the JDU-BJP government to Rahul Gandhi. The preparations for today’s programme had been going on for some time. But permission for the programme was deliberately cancelled last night when the administration found out that the students are planning to attend the event in large numbers,” Choudhary told ANI. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Congress condemns FIR against Rahul
Patna: A day after the Darbhanga district administration lodged an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for attending an event at Ambedkar Hostel without permission, the party criticised the move on Friday while urging the state govt not to implicate dalit students. Speaking to the reporters, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar claimed police were attempting to arrest around 100 dalit students who had invited Rahul to participate in the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ event. “The police have gone all out to arrest these poor students whose names appear in the FIR. We strongly condemn this police action,” Kumar said, adding that the students should not be dragged into a political conflict between the Congress and the govt. Kumar said, “We neither fear the bullets of the NDA govt nor their FIRs. The Congress stands firmly with dalits, OBCs, EBCs and minority students. They need not be afraid. Rahulji is with them.” Krishna Allavaru, the party’s Bihar in charge, said the administration had initially extended support during preparations but suddenly withdrew permission. “Our leader went there to interact with students, not to hold a public rally. The Bihar govt’s last-minute decision clearly shows it fears the Congress and Rahul,” Allavaru claimed. Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee’s working president Jignesh Mevani said, “The registration of an FIR against Rahul and dalit students proves that the NDA is opposed to dalit, backward, extremely backward and tribal communities.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Govt to send all-party teams to brief nations on Pak-sponsored terrorism
NEW DELHI: Stepping up its diplomatic offensive on Operation Sindoor, govt has decided to send five all-party delegations of MPs to different parts of the world starting next week to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Each team will have eight members. MPs belonging to BJP, Congress, TMC, DMK, NCP (SP), JDU, BJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPM and some other parties will be part of the delegations which are meant to signal national unity. Sources said some former ministers would lead the delegations scheduled to visit various countries over a period period of 10 days. MEA will brief the MPs before they depart. Though all parties appeared to be on board, Congress sources were angry that govt had reached out to its MPs and others directly instead of approaching the leadership first. Sources said while party members would join the delegations in “supreme national interest”, it was for the leadership to decide who from its ranks would go. They particularly appeared to be unhappy about the likelihood of Shashi Tharoor being the choice to head one of the delegations, possibly the one to the US. “He, being chairman of the standing committee on external affairs, should have been the logical choice, but his remarks have lately been out of line with the party’s stand,” said a source. Congress sources also indicated that they would push for the inclusion of deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi in one of the teams. Govt expressed surprise at Congress’s response. “Members of delegations are supposed to pursue national interest and not work as representatives of political parties. They are going there as Indians,” a source said. “The practice has always been that govt chooses the members. So far nobody has objected,” he added. A leader of a party that has been sounded out for the exercise said they were asked to be ready to leave by May 22-23 for a period of 10 days and that MEA would be in touch with them to provide details, including the itinerary. Former Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur, Aparajita Sarangi, Samik Bhattacharya and Brij Lal are among the BJP members to be part of the teams, sources said. At least four MPs from Congress, besides members of other parties, have been tapped by govt for the exercise. They include Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid and Amar Singh. However, Congress sources said at least three leaders told govt that it should contact their party leadership for the names. TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, JDU’s Sanjay Jha, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, CPM’s John Brittas, UBT’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, DMK’s K Kanimozhi, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and AAP’s Vikramjit Sawhney are also being tapped to be part of the delegations, sources said. While Khurshid, a former external affairs minister, has been asked to lead a delegation of seven MPs to south and south-east Asia, covering countries such as South Korea, Japan and Singapore, Baramati MP Sule is likely to lead a team to West Asia and Africa, including the likes of Oman, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa, sources said. Tewari is likely to lead a delegation to Europe or West Asia and has been asked about his availability while Tharoor could lead a team to the US, they said, adding that former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was likely to be part of one delegation. While there was no official word from govt on the delegations, Congress’s Jairam Ramesh said Union minister Kiren Rijiju had spoken to party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
UP BJP org rejig: Dalits, OBCs likely to weigh in prominently
Lucknow: OBC and Dalit communities are expected to weigh in prominently as the BJP gears up to reboot its organisational machinery at the ground level by inducting around 90,000 functionaries in over 1,500 out of 1,918 mandals (divisions). Sources said the party plans to recalibrate 80% of the mandals — a local organisational unit within the party’s hierarchical structure — even as the party draws up a broader blueprint of a strategy to counter opposition in the run-up to the 2027 UP assembly polls. A mandal is a key operational layer in the BJP’s grassroots machinery, enabling it to maintain a strong local presence. It is one level below a district and usually corresponds to a group of a few municipal wards or several village panchayats, mainly a sub-division within a district for efficient grassroots-level political and organisational functioning. According to BJP sources, the party will appoint over 60 functionaries in each of the over 1,500 mandals where the party has already appointed a president. A similar exercise will be undertaken in the remaining over 400 mandals after the appointment of presidents. The new team is expected to have a sizable presence of OBC, Dalit and women functionaries, a move that could align with BJP’s focus on strengthening its grassroots presence and bolstering its social coalition, which catapulted the party to an overwhelming majority in UP in the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections. The induction of OBC and Dalit functionaries at the grassroots, experts said, could allow the BJP to counter the opposition’s Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) card, which dented the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by shrinking its tally from 62 to 33 in UP. A senior BJP functionary said the induction of a good number of women functionaries at the mandal level is also on the cards. Speculations are rife that women may comprise around 33% of the total functionaries at the mandal level. Is that happens then it would be a strategic move by the party, which has been prioritising gender inclusivity by ensuring significant representation of women functionaries in the new appointments. The party also plans to engage the upper caste leadership strategically at the grassroots level as part of its broader organisational revamp. While OBCs and Dalits form the numerical majority and a critical voter bloc, upper castes (like Brahmins, Thakurs, Baniya, and Kayasthas) have traditionally been a core support base for the BJP. The party aims to retain their influence while expanding its appeal to marginalised groups. In March this year, the party had named 70 new district presidents, of whom 39 were from the upper caste, 25 were OBCs and six Scheduled Caste. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Hostel can never be a place for political meetings, NDA netas flay Rahul
Patna: The NDA members strongly reacted to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that the Darbhanga administration did not give him permission to interact with the dalit students of Ambedkar Hostel at the launch of the party’s ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ there. Strongly refuting Rahul’s allegations, JD(U) acting national president Sanjay Kumar Jha said a hostel can never be a place for political meetings. The Darbhanga administration had given permission to the Congress to hold Rahul’s meeting at Town Hall,” he said. He alleged that Rahul had come to Bihar for doing politics only but people knew how much concerned the Congress was for the dalits and economically backward classes while being a partner in the “jungle raj of the RJD in Bihar”. “Congress should look into its history. Have you ever heard about any rule to allow a political meeting in a students’ hostel, meant for studies. People have been watching the Congress since the Mandal Commission report. It is Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who has successfully got a caste survey done in the state, and the govt has been taking assertive action on the basis of its report,” he said, alleging that Rahul has a political agenda since election is due in Bihar. State JD(U) president Umesh Kushwaha mocked Rahul and said, “Aisa na ho ki 243 seats jeet jaye NDA (It might happen that that NDA might win all 243 assembly seats)”. Reacting over Rahul’s speech in Darbhanga, health minister Mangal Pandey said his negative politics will push Congress further into the abyss. “In Darbhanga, he staged a drama of protest to hide the flop show. Rahul’s attempt to create chaos by disobeying administrative orders is condemnable,” he said, alleging that the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha wanted to gain fame through his absurd antics and negative politics. “He walked to the Ambedkar hostel because the people gathered at the Town hall, assigned by the administration, were less in numbers than his expectations.” State BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said Rahul should have been in some drama company and not in politics. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
‘BJP leader’s statement is shameful’, JDU leader Sanjay Jha furious over statement on Sofia Qureshi
Patna: JDU MP Sanjay Jha has expressed his views on Rahul Gandhi not getting permission to hold a program in Ambedkar hostel in Darbhanga. He said that political activities should not take place in the hostel. Congress people had asked for a town hall, which was allowed by the district administration. Sanjay Jha has also called the statement made by the BJP leader of Madhya Pradesh on Sofia Qureshi shameful. Sanjay Jha said that Congress people had asked for a place in a hostel in Darbhanga. He clarified that no political meeting takes place in any hostel. Hostel is a place where students go to study. Therefore, political meetings, rallies or programs cannot be held there. Courtesy : Hindi News
FIR against Rahul for unauthorised event
Patna: Darbhanga district administration on Thursday lodged an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for holding an event at the Ambedkar Hostel without official permission. The case was registered shortly after Rahul left Darbhanga for Patna. In addition to Rahul, 18 others were named in the FIR filed at Laheriasarai police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police acted on two separate complaints submitted by district welfare officer Alok Kumar and block welfare officer Khursid Alam. “We registered a case against them since they held the function without any permission,” district welfare officer Kumar told TOI. According to the FIR, the Congress had been granted permission to hold its event at the Town Hall. However, the meeting was instead conducted at the Ambedkar Hostel, allegedly without authorisation, and was attended by Rahul and several others. Responding to the allegations, Rahul told reporters at Patna airport before departing for Delhi, “I told them (officials) if you want to stop me (from visiting the hostel), do it, but they didn’t as I went there.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
PM agreed to caste census out of fear of deprived classes: Rahul
Patna: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed PM Narendra Modi agreed to conduct a caste census “out of fear” of the country’s deprived classes, who, he said, make up 90% of the population. Rahul’s remarks followed the recent decision by the cabinet committee on political affairs, chaired by the PM, to approve caste enumeration in the forthcoming general census. Speaking at the launch of the “Shiksha Nyay Samwad” in Darbhanga, an NDA stronghold, Rahul called for a comprehensive caste census on the lines of Telangana, reservation for socially deprived groups in private educational institutions and the release of funds allocated for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Addressing students at Ambedkar Hostel, despite being denied permission by the local administration, Rahul declared he would continue his fight until these three demands were met. “We told the PM in Parliament that you will have to conduct the caste census and he agreed out of fear of your power,” Rahul told the gathering. Seeking to connect with the audience, Rahul alleged that dalits, extremely backward classes, other backward classes and adivasis have long faced systemic oppression and have been denied access to quality education through various means, including the leaking of exam papers. “Exam paper leaks are just a part of the conspiracy to destroy your academic career,” he said, demanding reservation for deprived communities in private academic institutions. He urged marginalised groups to recognise their collective strength. “Just identify your strength. You make up 90% of the total population, but ‘90% ke liye desh me koi rasta nahin hai’ (there is no path for such a large section in this country),” he said. Highlighting their underrepresentation, he pointed out the lack of presence in the bureaucracy, judiciary, educational institutions and medical colleges and called for unity among the deprived classes. Before returning to the national capital, Rahul visited a cinema hall in Patna to watch a recently released biopic based on the lives of 19th-century social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. Several social activists, however, claimed they were denied entry to the cinema to watch the film, despite having special passes. Patna: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed PM Narendra Modi agreed to conduct a caste census “out of fear” of the country’s deprived classes, who, he said, make up 90% of the population. Rahul’s remarks followed the recent decision by the cabinet committee on political affairs, chaired by the PM, to approve caste enumeration in the forthcoming general census. Speaking at the launch of the “Shiksha Nyay Samwad” in Darbhanga, an NDA stronghold, Rahul called for a comprehensive caste census on the lines of Telangana, reservation for socially deprived groups in private educational institutions and the release of funds allocated for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Addressing students at Ambedkar Hostel, despite being denied permission by the local administration, Rahul declared he would continue his fight until these three demands were met. “We told the PM in Parliament that you will have to conduct the caste census and he agreed out of fear of your power,” Rahul told the gathering. Seeking to connect with the audience, Rahul alleged that dalits, extremely backward classes, other backward classes and adivasis have long faced systemic oppression and have been denied access to quality education through various means, including the leaking of exam papers. “Exam paper leaks are just a part of the conspiracy to destroy your academic career,” he said, demanding reservation for deprived communities in private academic institutions. He urged marginalised groups to recognise their collective strength. “Just identify your strength. You make up 90% of the total population, but ‘90% ke liye desh me koi rasta nahin hai’ (there is no path for such a large section in this country),” he said. Highlighting their underrepresentation, he pointed out the lack of presence in the bureaucracy, judiciary, educational institutions and medical colleges and called for unity among the deprived classes. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Is communicating with Dalits a sin, asks Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s Darbhanga address permission
It is the height of dictatorship that the JDU-BJP government prevented Rahul Gandhi from attending the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program at the Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, Bihar, says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi holds a portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar during the Shiksha Nyay Samvad programme, in Darbhanga, Thursday, May 15, 2025. Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi holds a portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar during the Shiksha Nyay Samvad programme, in Darbhanga, Thursday, May 15, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (May 15, 2025) hit out at the JDU-BJP government in Bihar, accusing it of sheer dictatorship by “preventing” Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi from holding a ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ in Darbhanga. Mr. Gandhi addressed students at Mithila University’s Ambedkar Hostel, despite being allegedly denied permission to hold the event. “Is communicating with Dalit, deprived and backward class students against the Constitution? Is it a sin to talk to them about their education, their recruitment exams and jobs,” asked Mr. Kharge. “It is the height of dictatorship that the JDU-BJP government prevented Rahul Gandhi from attending the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program at the Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, Bihar,” he said in a post on X in Hindi. Kharge said the birthplace of democracy Bihar will remember this “injustice” and will give a befitting reply to JDU-BJP when the time comes. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a video of police action in preventing Gandhi from going to the Ambedkar students hostel in Darbhanga. “India is a democracy, it is governed by the Constitution, not by dictatorship. No one can stop us from raising our voice for social justice and education,” Ramesh said in his post on X. The Congress had also expressed outrage on the suggestion by the authorities to change the venue to an alternative site. Addressing the students, Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to hold a caste census “out of fear” of the country’s deprived population, to which the opposition was lending its voice. The leader of the opposition made the remark at a charged-up interaction with students in Darbhanga district of Bihar. “As you all are aware, my car was stopped at the gate (of Mithila University). But I did not relent. I got out and took a circuitous route to reach here on foot,” said the Rae Bareli MP, who launched ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’, a public interaction programme in Bihar where assembly polls are due later this year. Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https://thehindu.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.