News Analysis India

Tag: JDU

  • LJP to suffer big jolt in Bihar soon as party leaders likely to join ruling JD-U on Thursday

    Express News Service
    PATNA: If speculations were to be believed, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will suffer a major jolt in Bihar as nearly five dozen leaders are expected to join the ruling JD-U, along with their supporters, on February 18.

    The rebellion against Chirag Paswan started getting louder in the LJP after the party’s poor performance in the Bihar Assembly elections 2020.

    Many district heads of Chirag Paswan’s party are among those who are speculated to revolt and leave the LJP.

    If former spokesperson and leader of the LJP, Keshav Singh, is to be believed, over 60 leaders will join the JDU on February 18 to strengthen Nitish Kumar’s camp. Singh had turned rebellious after he was expelled from LJP.

    Keshav Singh told media persons that a decision to join JD-U by dozens of leaders and their supporters was taken recently at a meeting of rebel LJP leaders.

    He further added that the LJP rebels will attend a meeting of JD-U on February 18 and join the JD-U to strengthen Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s hand. He said that he would be among others taking the membership of JD-U.

    A veteran political analyst of Bihar, Arun Kumar Pandey, said that rebel LJP leaders joining JD-U, led by Keshav Singh, can create political hype in the short run but won’t have a long term damaging impact on LJP.

    “It is almost sure that those joining JD-U will not get any berths. But JD-U, by welcoming the LJP rebels in their party, can put a demoralising pressure on Chirag Paswan for taking a stand against LJP’s in Bihar polls,” Pandey said.

    LJP leader Awadhesh Singh said that Keshav Singh and others can not make any impact on LJP as he along with many others were expelled.

  • Nitish Kumar dodges answering question on fuel price hike

    By ANI
    PATNA: Refraining from commenting over the fuel price hike, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that it is true that prices are rising and it is clearly visible.

    Responding to a question on rising prices of diesel and petrol in the country, Nitish Kumar told reporters, “Everyone would like it if the prices do not rise but right now the prices are on a rise. Everybody can see that.”

    Petrol and diesel prices in the national capital stand at Rs 89.29 a litre (increase by 30 paise) and Rs 79.70 per litre (increase by 35 paise), respectively.

    The Bihar CM was talking to reporters after offering prayers on the occasion of Saraswati puja.

    ALSO READ: Petrol soars to Rs 99.87 in Rajasthan; LPG, ATF prices up

    Extending greetings to the people Nitish Kumar said, “Today is Basant Panchami and Saraswati Puja and I give my best wishes to the people on the occasion of these festivals. Today we performed Saraswati puja which is done to obtain knowledge.”

    Basant Panchami, also known as ‘Vasant Panchami’, marks the arrival of the spring season in India.

    Basant Panchami is also dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, Goddess Saraswati who bestows her devotees with wisdom, learning and knowledge.  

  • INTERVIEW | Education top priority for Bihar govt, says Dr Ashok Kumar Chaudhary

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Bihar is on the right track to become empowered all spheres of development under the NDA government headed by a visionary like Nitish Kumar, said state education minister Dr Ashok Kumar Chaudhary.

    Chaudhary, who holds the additional charges of the ministry of social welfare, building construction, science and technology and minority affairs, is one of the well educated and closest allies of CM Nitish. In an interview with TNIE, he claimed that education is among the top priorities of the government. Excerpts:

    What is Bihar’s plans for education amidst the push to become a developed state?

    Education for the present state government is not a mere ministerial responsibility but an empowerment mission. Therefore, we are spending 20% of the state’s total budget on education  — which is higher than normal spending on the field. Besides this, the state government is working to fill the vacancies from primary schools onwards.

    If we speak about school education, the state government has revamped the entire infrastructure. Almost all facilities are being made available for promoting education and encourage children from all marginalised sections of society to attend classes. The books, uniforms and cycle schemes are important parts of an initiative to make Bihar excel in education.

    The most remarkable thing is that the education of girls has have got adequate momentum with the implementation of cycle and poshak (uniform) schemes. Simply put, Bihar is excelling in educational empowerment. One day, the state will have not only the highest literacy rate but also the most educational institutions.

    With the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, education was hit from school to university levels. What measures are being taken to bring things back under control?

    Bihar government under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar have brought the covid-19 under control and have resumed classes ensuring proper adherence to safety protocols. After the senior classes in schools, now classes for the students of Class 6 to 8 are starting from February 8. Classes in colleges and universities are happening with 50% attendance and examinations are being conducted. The officials of education department led by principal secretary of education Sanjay Kumar, are working round the clock to take education way ahead. And we will resume the full-fledged working of the educational sector in the next few months.

    It is learnt that the school dropout rate among children has increased in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic. How are you going to deal with it?

    Yes, more than 20 lakh cases of school dropout have been estimated till date amid the corona crisis. The education department will soon launch a drive to bring all those children back to schools.

    We had started online classes during the peak times of pandemic for school children in addition to classes conducted through programmes on Doordarshan and radio. In order to enhance speaking skills in English as well other languages, we have started educational schemes in association with the Kaushal Vikas mission. We are committed to exploring talents through proper educations. Let me tell you that vacancies to  2,451 posts in polytechnic institutes and engineering colleges are also being filled in order to promote science and technology-based education. 

    What all have your government been doing for women empowerment and environment protection?

    For boosting women empowerment in education, the state government has doubled the financial assistance to unmarried girls on passing intermediate from Rs 25,000 and Rs 50000  for both married and unmarried girls on completing graduation. The daughters of Bihar will be able to step up their higher education plans and ensure their participation in the progress of the state.

    Bihar has got the highest number of women cops in the country and it shows how our government is concerned with the “Nari Shakti” in every sphere. According to the India Justice Report 2020,one in 4 cops in Bihar is a woman- which is the highest across all states.

    As far as, works for environmental protection are concerned, the Jal-Jivan Hariyali started by CM Nitish Kumar is globally acclaimed now and has started redressing out many problems including safe drinking water along with enhancing greenery. The water bodies have been renovated to save water besides setting a record of having planted crores of trees.

    Any plans to upgrade the state’s e-education?

    Yes, we have started an initiative to strengthen the “E-education” under the pilot project through the “StepApp Tab” in two girls schools in Patna. Our government is striving to strengthen education through technical means. Besides this, the department of education and the ‘Centre for Health Policy” have signed also MoU to provide support in health and gender-related activities, strengthening financial accountability for need-based research.

    We are also working to develop the language skills and numerical knowledge of the children.

  • NDA ally JD(U) comes out in support of farm laws, asks farmers to resume talks with Centre

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Amid the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the new farm laws, JD (U) has come out in support of the new laws on Wednesday. JD(U) national president RCP Singh through a media statement said that the farm bill is not the “anti-farmer” in any manner.

    Singh said that the three farm laws are not the ‘anti-farmer’ and the “mandis” in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh used to be a den of corruption. “When our government came to Bihar, we abolished the APMC Act and see its result today. The grain production in Bihar was 81 lakh tonnes in 2005 that has now gone to 181 lakh tonnes”, Singh said.

    Quoting figures, RCP Singh said that Bihar has done well in the agriculture sector after abolishing the APMC Act. “In terms of productivity, maize production has increased by 135%, paddy by 119% and wheat by 118%. The opposition should not confuse people on such issues”, he said.

    Referring to the first law of the Kissan Bill, Singh said that the first law says that the farmer has the freedom to sell his products. There are no restrictions and is completely free. Similarly, talking about contract farming he said that informal contract farming is still happening in Bihar and UP.

    Talking about the Essential Commodities Act, he said that it came in 1954-55. “That was the era of scarcity. At that time, we were able to feed people when grains came from outside the country. Today we are in surplus in the production of food grains, fruits and vegetables”, he said.

    RCP Singh said that if somebody feels the three laws require improvement, then they should sit down and talk with the government. “We need to understand this. According to the order of the Supreme Court, the government is calling for talks, but you are calling the government dogmatic. Who is stopping you from talking? Let’s talk. How should the income of farmers increase, how should our farming be profitable, how should people not leave agriculture, should be discussed”, he said.

  • In open letter to JDU, LJP admits having helped BJP in Bihar election

    Express News Service
    PATNA: The LJP for the first time after the Bihar assembly elections admitted having helped the BJP.

    The Lok Janshakti Party-headed by Chirag Paswan on Wednesday made the claim in an open letter written to JD(U) National secretary KC Tyagi. The LJP blamed Nitish Kumar for JD(U)’s poor show in the elections. Accusing Nitish Kumar of “obdurate” stand on seat-sharing with LJP, Raju Tiwari — Bihar parliamentary board president of LJP — alleged that JD(U) was defeated due to Nitish Kumar’s insistence on fighting in more seats.

    Tiwari further alleged that Nitish Kumar wanted to rule as the big brother and give only 15 seats to LJP. “There was no dispute between LJP and BJP and still there are none now,” Tiwari wrote in the letter.

     “The LJP has always been in ideological difference with JD(U). That was the reason, LJP had never been in alliance with JD (U) even in past. But due to BJP, LJP continued supporting them in the NDA but then JD(U) attempted to cause damage to LJP in the Lok Sabha elections”, Tiwari alleged.

    The LJP, through the letter, also accused Nitish Kumar of attempting to take undue advantage of illness of Ram Vilas Paswan. Tiwari’s letter has stirred up the hornet’s nest by claiming that they helped the BJP on 104 out of 110 seats in assembly election while they put up a friendly fight in the remaining six.

    The letter also claimed that Chirag Paswan never made any individual attack on Nitish Kumar during the assembly election campaign except criticising his policies of Kumar. Justifying the decision to write an open letter to KC Tyagi, Tiwari said that Tyagi has been baselessly holding LJP responsible for the defeat of JD(U).

  • RLSP-JD(U) merger on the cards? A day after AIMIM MLAs meet Nitish Kumar, Upendra Kushwaha follows suit

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Sunday’s meeting of RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has triggered speculations about the former rejoining the JD(U) fold in near future. Upendra Kushwaha had also held meetings with JD(U) senior leaders in recent past.

    On Sunday, former Union minister Kushwaha went to meet the CM at his residence with a possible cabinet expansion around the corner. Former state president of JD(U) Vashishtha Narayan Singh also attended the meeting between Nitish Kumar and Kushwaha.

    “It was the meeting between two brothers – Nitish Kumar and me. We are like brothers for a long time despite our differences in politics”, Kushwaha told the media after coming out from the CM’s residence.

    Upon being asked about the political murmurs regarding RLSP’s merger with JD(U), Kushwaha did not elaborate saying this is not true. Sources said that Kushwaha is being convinced to be with JD(U) by senior leader Vashishtha Narayan Singh, who is taken in high regard by Kushwaha.

    Singh told the media that the meeting was very cordial and encouraging but he also avoided speaking anything about the merger. But if a reliable NDA source is to be believed, RLSP will get some LMC seats from Governor quota if it either merges or comes in alliance with JD(U). “Upendra Kushwaha like BJP leader and former union minister Shahanwaz Hussain may also get elected to state legislative council through the quota of the Governor. Kushwaha may also get a berth in the cabinet in near future, if he joins JD(U). Talks are in progress under strict political confidentiality”, said a NDA source.

    The RLSP had contested with BSP and the AIMIM in the recent assembly polls. A few days ago, the lone MLA of BSP Jaman Khan from Chainpur in Kaimur joined the JD(U). A day before Kushwaha met CM Nitish Kumar, all the five MLAs of AIMIM had met Nitish Kumar.

    “After the AIMIM MLAs met CM, it was Kushwaha’s turn. So, something big is in the making. Wait for a few weeks now”, said political analyst RK Verma, adding that Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) has roped-in many sharp brains in party like RCP Singh and others to seize the opportunity.

     Meanwhile, the RLSP denied merger rumours via Twitter. “The news of the RLSP merger is baseless and wrong. Considering the aspirations of the people of both Bihar and the country, the RLSP will continue its struggle”, the tweet read. 

    But some seasoned political analysts of Patna strongly believe that the RLSP has now no other option left after the debacle in Bihar polls but to either merge with JD(U) or come in alliance with the NDA. “Kushwaha had worked in alliance with NDA in the past and his political temperament does not differ more from others in NDA. As of now, the RLSP’s prime target is to consolidate the position in state political that has virtually weaken after recent polls with not a single seat went to it”, said political analyst Pawan Kumar Yadav.

    Kumar had made Kushwaha the leader of the opposition in 2004, though he was a first-time MLA, ignoring many legislators who had suggested otherwise.

    With time, Kushwaha turned a rebel and parted ways with Kumar to form his own party.

    The RLSP later became a part of the BJP-led NDA before 2014 general election and Kushwaha was made a member of the Narendra Modi 1.0 government.

    But, the return of the JD(U) to the NDA fold in July 2017 changed equations once again, and the RLSP quit the coalition and became a part of the RJD-headed Grand Alliance.

    The Mahagathbandhan, however, suffered a severe drubbing in the 2019 parliamentary polls and Kushwaha lost the election from Karakat and Ujiyarpur Lok Sabha seats.

    Weeks before the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, he walked out of the Mahagathbandhan and floated a six-party front, with Uttar Pradesh leader Mayawati and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi as its prominent members.

    The front failed miserably, but AIMIM managed to bag five seats in the Muslim-dominated Seemachal region, emerging as a new force in Bihar politics.  

  • Bihar cabinet expansion: BJP demands key portfolio for Shahanwaz Hussian

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  The Bihar BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav’s presence in Patna on Wednesday has once again raised hopes that the cabinet expansion might happen soon along with the finalisation of nominations to the state Legislative Council.

    The cabinet expansion is likely to see some fresh faces to maintain the social equation

    According to sources, the BJP has demanded the finance or home portfolio for MLC and senior leader Shahanwaz Hussian.

    At present, the education ministry is held by JD (U) leader Ashok K Choudhary.  Sources said the BJP wants the education ministry in order to make changes to the curriculum.

    Recently, the BJP had sent a list of MLAs to be sworn in as ministers in the next cabinet expansion. Objections’ were reportedly raised by the JD (U) over certain names in the list.

    CM Nitish Kumar had also recently expressed his annoyance over the delay in cabinet expansion saying that it was the first time in the NDA that delay to such an extent was being made in cabinet expansions.

  • After Assam, JDU likely to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections

    Express News Service
    PATNA: JDU, the BJP’s political ally in Bihar, will turn political foe to the saffron party during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2022.

    Almost determined to go alone in the 2022 UP assembly polls suited to make political presence felt.

    According to party sources,  KC Tyagi-national general secretary of party will be in-charge of JDU in UP elections in 2022 after contesting in West Bengal, Assam and other states going to poll this year.

    The JDU will try to consolidate its position in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh more than other parts primarily because of the areas being close to Bihar border. 

    The constituencies, which have a considerable population of ‘Kurmi, Koeri, and EBCs in addition to upper castes, will be preferred to be contested by the JDU. After Assam, UP will be the second state with BJP government in which JDU will go against the BJP.

    ALSO READ: No room for people charged with criminal cases in Bihar Congress, says State in-charge Bhakat Charan Das

    “The JDU has turned more aggressive than ever before after the recent Arunachal Pradesh incident of defection of its six MLAs to BJP. After that, the party has become obdurate to contest without being in alliance with the BJP outside Bihar,” said JDU source.

    In UP, the JDU may contest at least 100 to 120 seats depending upon the situation till then.

    To contest in UP assembly elections in 2022 alone was also decided unanimously at the meeting of party national executive in Patna recently. 

    KC Tyagi has also confirmed this to a section of media in New Delhi stating the decision to contest in the upcoming UP elections has nothing to take with the alliance with BJP in Bihar.

    “Alliance in Bihar with BJP is limited to Bihar only. In Jharkhand also, the JDU had fought alone earlier,” a JDU leader. 

    The JDU has also decided in principle to project KC Tyagi as the leader of party and CM candidate in Uttar Pradesh, if the party is voted to power in future.

  • BSP’s lone MLA Jama Khan joins Nitish Kumar’s JD-U in Bihar

    Express News Service
    PATNA: A day after BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain was elected unopposed to the Bihar Legislative council, JD-U also managed to get a Muslim face in the party.

    Chainpur MLA Jama Khan joined JD-U as an Independent legislator pledging full support to his government.

    Political analysts say that MLA Khan joining the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) is a well calculated move, almost parallel to BJP getting Shahnawaz Hussain.

    “But Shahnawaz Hussain’s political stature is far better than that of Khan’s but both are influential to represent the minority community,” said a BJP leader who chose not to be named.

    The JD-U with no Muslim candidate elected in the 2020 assembly election, was desperately trying to get a Muslim face in the party and its search ended with Khan included in the team.

    Sources also said that Khan may be included in the bihar cabinet during expansion, which is expected to be held after January 26, especially if the BJP includes Shahnawaz Hussain in the cabinet.

    Khan had earlier met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and then joined the party in presence of JD-U leaders and ministers including Ashok Chaudhary.

    In the assembly elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) opened an account in the border district of Kaimur in Uttar Pradesh. JD-U was trying to bring the BSP MLA soon after the result were announced.

    In fact, the JD-U fielded 11 Muslim candidates in the 2020 assembly elections but none of them were elected causing a great political inconvenience to ensure minority representation in the cabinet formation.

    Sources from JD-U hoped that Khan may get the Ministry of Minority Welfare and others because of his towering political influence in the Chainpur assembly areas.

  • JDU to spread roots in northeast

    Express News Service
    PATNA: On a mission to make its presence felt in the northeastern states, especially after the defection of its six MLAs to BJP’s camps, the JD(U) is planning to mobilise its machinery to increase its membership. 

    JD(U) national president RCP Singh signaled the beginning of the look-northeast plan after appointing Subrata Sen as he party convener in Tripura with the directive to swell the party ranks through intensive membership drive.

    Later, Singh said the party aims to make its mark in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states after the drive in Tripura. Earlier, a JD(U) delegation from Tripura, led by Subrata Sen, discussed with the party national president the strategies for Tripura. JD(U) in-charge of northeast Sanjay Verma said that Sen would work towards expanding the party.  

    RCP Singh told the delegation to take the message of JD(U) being the only party in the country to embody the ideals of Gandhi, JP, Lohia, and Ambedkar. Subrata Sen said people in Tripura have been looking up to Nitish with great expectations.