News Analysis India

Tag: RJD

  • As Bihar Parties Welcome ‘Bharat Ratna’ To Karpoori Thakur, RJD Calls It ‘A BJP Poll Gimmick’ |

    New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the government’s decision to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna on former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United president Nitish Kumar too hailed the move, calling it a good decision by the Centre. However, JD-U’s ally RJD has termed the move as a “political gimmick” of BJP. “My political and ideological guru, Late Karpoori Thakur ji, should have received Bharat Ratna long ago. We raised this voice from the House to the streets, but the Central Government woke up when the present Bihar government of social concern conducted the caste census and increased the scope of reservation for the benefit of Bahujans. The fear is true; politics will have to focus on the concerns of Dalit Bahujan,” RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav posted on X.

    Family Hails Move

    On Tuesday evening, the government announced its decision to award the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, to Karpoori Thakur posthumously. Following the announcement, family members of the late Bihar CM exchanged sweets in recognition of the forthcoming Bharat Ratna honour. Soon after the government announced that Karpoori Thakur would be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, his son and JD(U) MP Ram Nath Thakur said that he didn’t see it from the side of politics.

    “I want to thank the Central government from my side as well as on behalf of my party and people of Bihar…I don’t see it from the side of politics. His (Karpoori Thakur’s) 100th birthday is tomorrow so maybe in view of that Central govt took this decision,” Thakur said.

    LJP Expresses Gratitude To PM 

    Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan expressed express gratitude to the Government and the Prime Minister.

    “I express gratitude to the Government of India and the Prime Minister. Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur had been a long-pending demand of the people of Bihar as well as the entire country…Today, the PM honoured that demand of the people” Paswan said.

    BJP Hails Move

    Bihar LoP and BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha said that the PM has honoured all Biharis by honouring ‘Jannayak’ Karpoori Thakur with the Bharat Ratna. “We had made the demand from the PM earlier too. Last year, he had said that this would be considered seriously. The PM has honoured all Biharis by honouring ‘Jannayak’ Karpoori Thakur with the Bharat Ratna. Entire Bihar is expressing gratitude to the PM because this is an honour for the entire state,” Sinha said.

    Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras said that the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “historic.” “PM Narendra Modi has made a historic decision. The people of Bihar and the entire country are thankful to him for this decision…The PM made a historic decision. He will now be considered a messiah of the backward and Dalits,” Paras said.

    Moreover, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Thakur was such an honest leader that it is discussed even today. “He connected the poor, the deprived and the backward to the mainstream…I express gratitude to the Prime Minister for conferring the Bharat Ratna on him. This is an honour of the poor and their voice, of the backwards…Several of the previous governments used to think about only the people around them. Some of them thought only about their own families. Narendra Modi Government thinks about the entire country,” Prasad said.

    He further said that awarding Karpoori Thakur with Bharat Ratna is an honour of the poor, the backward of the country “For this much-awaited decision, I express my gratitude. Awarding Karpoori Thakur with Bharat Ratna is an honour of the poor, the backward of the country,” he said.

    BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the entire people of Bihar. “It is good news for Bihar. ..I thank the central govt…he deserves it, this was a demand of the Bihar people…This was fulfilled when a poor person’s son became Prime Minister. I thank PM Modi on behalf of the entire people of Bihar. Karpoori Thakur was the real leader of Bihar, he did so many things for the state,” Hussain said.

    Union Minister Nityanand Rai expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and said that Karpoori Thakur’s entire life was dedicated to the poor and deprived. “First of all, I would like to express gratitude to PM Narendra Modi. Karpoori Thakur’s entire life was dedicated to the poor and deprived…Those who do politics in his name never thought for him, they just did politics in his name. Parties formed the government with Congress but Karpoori Thakur did not get the honour,” Rai said.

    BJP MP Sushil Modi said that PM Narendra Modi has done that historic work which no other PM could do to date. “Narendra Modi has done that historic work which no other PM could do till date. Son of an OBC – Narendra Modi – has honoured a crusader of OBC with the Bharat Ratna. Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav used to demand the Bharat Ratna but why could they not do it when they were Union Ministers? Narendra Modi is fulfilling the dreams of Karpoori Thakur,” Sushil Modi said.

    Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary called it a historic decision and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “This is a historic decision. Thanks to the Prime Minister. By conferring the Bharat Ratna on ‘Gudri Ka Laal’, freedom fighter and former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur, PM Modi’s government has enhanced the pride of Bihar,” Choudhary said. “Narendra Modi’s government has enhanced the honour of Bihar today. On behalf of everyone in Bihar, I thank him for awarding Bharat Ratna to ‘Gudri Ke Laal’, freedom fighter and former CM Karpoori Thakur…PM Modi guarantees that he will fulfil everyone’s dreams – be it Lalu Yadav’s, Nitish Kumar’s, Congress Party’s or Ram Vilas’s. Only PM Modi can fulfil everyone’s dreams,” he added.

    RLJD Says Historic Decision

    RLJD Chief Upendra Kushwaha said that it is a historic moment for all and for those who fought for poor and backward people. “It is a historic moment for all of us and for those who fought for poor and backward people. We are grateful to PM Modi for this decision. Karpoori Thakur deserved this and we have been demanding it for a long time but the Government of India did not listen to us. However PM Modi has done it,” Kushwaha said.

    Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said that this honour was for the pride of the poor, the deprived – someone who had become an example with his simplicity and honesty – Jannayak Karpoori Thakur.

    Historic Decision Or Political Gimmick?

    While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar praised the Centre, his alliance partner in the state RJD said it was done to get votes.
    RJD’s Mrityunjay Tiwari said the BJP was verbally abusing Karpoori Thakur when he was alive and did not remember him for 9 years.

    “Central Government decided to award Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur. The BJP was verbally abusing him while he was alive and did not remember him for 9 years. Our party and leader Lalu Yadav were demanding Bharat Ratna for him continuously. Now that elections are near, they are remembering Karpoori Thakur and awarded him the Bharat Ratna. They are remembering him for votes,” Tiwari said.

    Bharat Ratna A Tribute To Thakur’s Social Justice Crusade

    Beyond the political discourse, the Bharat Ratna is hailed as a tribute to Karpoori Thakur’s relentless struggle for social justice. Known as ‘Jan Nayak,’ his commitment to uplifting the underprivileged sections of society is highlighted. The award recognizes Thakur’s monumental contributions to Indian politics, marked by a dedicated fight against social discrimination and inequality.

    Legacy Of Janata Dal Leader: A Lifelong Struggle For the Marginalized

    Karpoori Thakur’s legacy extends beyond party affiliations. His journey from the Praja Socialist Party to the Janata Dal reflects a commitment to affirmative action and the empowerment of the poor and marginalized. Born on January 24, 1924, and passing away on February 17, 1988, Thakur’s impact on Indian politics remains significant, with the Bharat Ratna serving as a posthumous acknowledgment of his enduring contribution.

  • BREAKING: Seat-Sharing In INDIA Bloc Will Take Time, Says RJD Supremo Lalu Yadav |

    NEW DELHI: Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday said that the process of reaching an agreement on seat-sharing within the opposition INDIA bloc is a time-consuming task. He also dispelled rumours of a discord with Janata Dal-United president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters, Lalu stated, “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance… it will take time.”

     

    Patna, Bihar | RJD chief Lalu Yadav says “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance…. I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple” pic.twitter.com/lvzN7hogQM
    — ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

     

    Lalu Declines Ayodhya’s Ram Temple Invite

    Simultaneously, the veteran Bihar politician declined an invitation to attend the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha ceremony scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya. Clarifying his decision, Lalu told reporters, “I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple.” Lalu further said that he would go to Ayodhya for a ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla. He also said that he would write a letter to Ram Temple Trust member Champat Rai, explaining the reason for not coming to attend the ceremony. 

    INDIA Allies Grapple With Seat-Sharing Consensus

    Despite numerous rounds of discussions, INDIA allies continue to grapple with the challenge of reaching a consensus on seat-sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The ongoing struggle further intensified with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declining the offer to become the convener of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

    Growing Discord Within INDIA Bloc

    The Janata Dal (United) has expressed disappointment over the bloc’s failure to finalize seat-sharing arrangements and strategize for the upcoming parliamentary polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as the consensus chairperson, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed Nitish Kumar’s candidature as convener.

    Seat-sharing talks in Bihar among the ruling coalition members faced hurdles over differences in seat adjustment and allotment. JD(U), Congress, and the Left parties, particularly CPI-ML (Liberation), played hardball during the negotiations.

    Kumar’s Strategic Move: Refusal To Become Convener Raises Stakes

    Despite being offered the post, JD(U) chief Kumar declined to become the convener of INDIA, reinforcing his commitment to not taking up any post in the coalition. This strategic move by Kumar keeps opposition parties guessing about his next steps, adding complexity to the ongoing political dynamics.

    Kumar’s refusal to become convener is anticipated to elevate his stature in Bihar politics. As a key figure in the state’s triangular politics, involving the RJD, BJP, and JD(U), Kumar’s decision provides him with multiple strategic options. The upcoming weeks are deemed crucial in Bihar politics, with all parties striving to align their equations effectively, according to political analysts.

  • RJD makes “coffin” jibe at new Parliament building; BJP says register treason charge

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Janata Dal on Sunday allegedly equated the structure of the new Parliament building with that of a coffin

    Taking to Twitter, the RJD shared a photo of a coffin and asked ‘Yeh kya hai (What is this?) in Hindi. The reaction has elicited sharp reactions from BJP.

    ये क्या है? pic.twitter.com/9NF9iSqh4L
    — Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) May 28, 2023
    “A case of treason should be registered against such people who have compared the new Parliament building with a coffin, ” BJP leader Sushil Modi said.

    RJD leader Shakti Yadav while speaking to ANI said, “PM Modi has buried democracy. The coffin has been posted as Modi has ensured the death of democracy.”

    “This is very unfortunate. Today they are comparing it with a coffin, were they comparing the old Parliament with ‘zero’? We were earlier sitting in zero?” BJP leader Dushyant Gautam asked.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya and Jitendra Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP president J P Nadda among other leaders were present on the occasion.

    NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Janata Dal on Sunday allegedly equated the structure of the new Parliament building with that of a coffin

    Taking to Twitter, the RJD shared a photo of a coffin and asked ‘Yeh kya hai (What is this?) in Hindi. The reaction has elicited sharp reactions from BJP.

    ये क्या है? pic.twitter.com/9NF9iSqh4Lgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) May 28, 2023
    “A case of treason should be registered against such people who have compared the new Parliament building with a coffin, ” BJP leader Sushil Modi said.

    RJD leader Shakti Yadav while speaking to ANI said, “PM Modi has buried democracy. The coffin has been posted as Modi has ensured the death of democracy.”

    “This is very unfortunate. Today they are comparing it with a coffin, were they comparing the old Parliament with ‘zero’? We were earlier sitting in zero?” BJP leader Dushyant Gautam asked.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya and Jitendra Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP president J P Nadda among other leaders were present on the occasion.

  • Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini strongly bats for special status to Bihar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Rohini Acharaya, 40, is not in the mood to enter politics now, but bats for special status to Bihar. She hopes that the Modi government will work closely with the Bihar government for the state’s development. Rohini is one the daughters of RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

    She also became a household name after she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing father. Moved at this act of her, many leaders of the BJP coming above party lines, had hailed her decision. A BJP leader had tweeted that if God gives him a daughter, she should be like Rohini Acharya. Talking to this newspaper, she said: “There is no plan to join politics. I am happily settled in Singapore with my kids. Also, I have no immediate plans of coming back to India as my children are in school in Singapore.”

    When asked what made her to donate one of her kidneys to her father, she said that her kidney was just ‘a small chunk of flesh’ that she donated to her father as a farz (duty) of a daughter. Speaking about the political future of her brother Tejashwi Yadav, she said that Tejashwi is serving the people sincerely. “I am confident that he will continue to serve the people of Bihar and India in future,” she said.

    She also batted for special status for Bihar strongly. “I would like Bihar to get special status from the centre as soon as possible which will help accelerate development of Bihar. I want to see Bihar regain its lost glory of once being the ‘education hub of India’,” she added.

    NEW DELHI:  Rohini Acharaya, 40, is not in the mood to enter politics now, but bats for special status to Bihar. She hopes that the Modi government will work closely with the Bihar government for the state’s development. Rohini is one the daughters of RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

    She also became a household name after she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing father. Moved at this 
    act of her, many leaders of the BJP coming above party lines, had hailed her decision. A BJP leader had tweeted that if God gives him a daughter, she should be like Rohini Acharya. Talking to this newspaper, she said: “There is no plan to join politics. I am happily settled in Singapore with my kids. Also, I have no immediate plans of coming back to India as my children are in school in Singapore.”

    When asked what made her to donate one of her kidneys to her father, she said that her kidney was just ‘a small chunk of flesh’ that she donated to her father as a farz (duty) of a daughter. Speaking about the political future of her brother Tejashwi Yadav, she said that Tejashwi is serving the people sincerely. “I am confident that he will continue to serve the people of Bihar and India in future,” she said.

    She also batted for special status for Bihar strongly. “I would like Bihar to get special status from the centre as soon as possible which will help accelerate development of Bihar. I want to see Bihar regain its lost glory of once being the ‘education hub of India’,” she added.

  • Lalu Prasad Yadav’s kidney transplant surgery in Singapore successful: Tejashwi

    The 74-year-old RJD president, who has been suffering from multiple health problems, was advised a kidney transplant.

  • Bypolls results 2022: Counting of votes for 7 Assembly seats in 6 states today

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The counting of votes in the by-elections to the seven Assembly constituencies spread across six states will be held on Sunday.

    The fierce battle is between Bharatiya Janata Party and regional parties such as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

    The polling was held on November 3 in Mokama and Gopalganj assembly constituencies of Bihar, Andheri (East) of Maharashtra, Adampur of Haryana, Munugode of Telangana, Gola Gokarannath of Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar of Odisha.

    Among the seven seats where by-polls were held, the BJP held three seats, the Congress two while the Shiv Sena and the RJD had one each.

    In the Assembly bypolls held across six states, the Munugode constituency in Telangana recorded the highest voter turnout, as per Election Commission trends.

    According to EC’s approximate trends, 48.35 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Gopalganj constituency while 52.47 per cent was recorded in Mokama in Bihar. With 77.55 per cent voting, Telangana’s Munugode recorded the highest voter turnout. Further, the Adampur constituency in Haryana witnessed a 75.25 per cent voter turnout.

    In Odisha, there was 66.63 per cent voter turnout recorded in Dhamnagar Assembly constituency bypolls. Gola Gokrannath constituency in Uttar Pradesh recorded a 55.68 per cent voter turnout. Meanwhile, the high-octane Andheri East constituency in Maharashtra witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 31.74 per cent, as per EC’s approximate trends.

    Haryana’s Adampur seat witnessed the contest between BJP, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    In Adampur, the by-election was necessitated after former chief minister Bhajan Lal’s son Kuldeep Bishnoi resigned as MLA from the seat and switched from the Congress to the BJP in August. Bishnoi’s son Bhavya contested the bypoll as the BJP candidate.

    The Congress fielded former Union minister Jai Prakash while the INLD picked Congress rebel Kurda Ram Nambardar as its candidate. Satender Singh was AAP’s candidate.

    Notably, the Adampur seat is considered a stronghold of Bishnoi.

    In Andheri East, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction’s candidate Rutuja Latke, the wife of incumbent Sena MLA Ramesh Latke whose death in May necessitated the poll, is expected to comfortably win the by-polls as the BJP had decided not to contest.

    This was the first election after the revolt in the Shiv Sena by Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators which led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    The NCP and Congress have also supported the candidature of Rutuja Latke.

    The bypoll Telangana’s Munugode Assembly constituency was necessitated after Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy quit the Congress and also as MLA in August and joined the BJP.

    While 47 candidates are in the fray, the eye is on BJP’s Raj Gopal Reddy, former TRS MLA Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy and Congress’ Palvai Sravanthi.

    The bypoll results is a prestige battle for Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is planning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In Bihar, this was the first major election after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted his ways with BJP and joined hands with RJD and Congress to form a Grand Alliance government.

    The main contest is between the BJP and the RJD in Bihar

    For the Mokama bypolls, the BJP has fielded Sonam Devi against RJD’s Neelam Devi, whose husband Anant Singh’s disqualification has necessitated the by-election.

    Notably, Mokama is said to be the stronghold of Anant Singh since 2005. He won the seat twice on JD(U) tickets.

    BJP has given the ticket to Kusum Devi, the wife of incumbent BJP MLA Subhash Singh while RJD has fielded Mohan Prasad Gupta for Goapalgunj by-election.

    The BJP is seeking to retain the Gola Gokarannath seat in Uttar Pradesh, which fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Arvind Giri in September.

    With the BSP and the Congress keeping away from the bypolls, the fight is between the BJP’s Aman Giri and the SP candidate and former Gola Gokarannath MLA Vinay Tiwari.

    In Odisha’s Dhamnagar bypoll, there seems to be a tough contest between ruling BJD candidate Abanti Das and BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj Sthitaprajana, the son of Bishnu Sethi, BJP MLA after whose death, the assembly seat fell vacant, as its candidate for the by-election. 

    NEW DELHI: The counting of votes in the by-elections to the seven Assembly constituencies spread across six states will be held on Sunday.

    The fierce battle is between Bharatiya Janata Party and regional parties such as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

    The polling was held on November 3 in Mokama and Gopalganj assembly constituencies of Bihar, Andheri (East) of Maharashtra, Adampur of Haryana, Munugode of Telangana, Gola Gokarannath of Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar of Odisha.

    Among the seven seats where by-polls were held, the BJP held three seats, the Congress two while the Shiv Sena and the RJD had one each.

    In the Assembly bypolls held across six states, the Munugode constituency in Telangana recorded the highest voter turnout, as per Election Commission trends.

    According to EC’s approximate trends, 48.35 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Gopalganj constituency while 52.47 per cent was recorded in Mokama in Bihar. With 77.55 per cent voting, Telangana’s Munugode recorded the highest voter turnout. Further, the Adampur constituency in Haryana witnessed a 75.25 per cent voter turnout.

    In Odisha, there was 66.63 per cent voter turnout recorded in Dhamnagar Assembly constituency bypolls. Gola Gokrannath constituency in Uttar Pradesh recorded a 55.68 per cent voter turnout. Meanwhile, the high-octane Andheri East constituency in Maharashtra witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 31.74 per cent, as per EC’s approximate trends.

    Haryana’s Adampur seat witnessed the contest between BJP, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    In Adampur, the by-election was necessitated after former chief minister Bhajan Lal’s son Kuldeep Bishnoi resigned as MLA from the seat and switched from the Congress to the BJP in August. Bishnoi’s son Bhavya contested the bypoll as the BJP candidate.

    The Congress fielded former Union minister Jai Prakash while the INLD picked Congress rebel Kurda Ram Nambardar as its candidate. Satender Singh was AAP’s candidate.

    Notably, the Adampur seat is considered a stronghold of Bishnoi.

    In Andheri East, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction’s candidate Rutuja Latke, the wife of incumbent Sena MLA Ramesh Latke whose death in May necessitated the poll, is expected to comfortably win the by-polls as the BJP had decided not to contest.

    This was the first election after the revolt in the Shiv Sena by Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators which led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    The NCP and Congress have also supported the candidature of Rutuja Latke.

    The bypoll Telangana’s Munugode Assembly constituency was necessitated after Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy quit the Congress and also as MLA in August and joined the BJP.

    While 47 candidates are in the fray, the eye is on BJP’s Raj Gopal Reddy, former TRS MLA Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy and Congress’ Palvai Sravanthi.

    The bypoll results is a prestige battle for Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is planning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In Bihar, this was the first major election after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted his ways with BJP and joined hands with RJD and Congress to form a Grand Alliance government.

    The main contest is between the BJP and the RJD in Bihar

    For the Mokama bypolls, the BJP has fielded Sonam Devi against RJD’s Neelam Devi, whose husband Anant Singh’s disqualification has necessitated the by-election.

    Notably, Mokama is said to be the stronghold of Anant Singh since 2005. He won the seat twice on JD(U) tickets.

    BJP has given the ticket to Kusum Devi, the wife of incumbent BJP MLA Subhash Singh while RJD has fielded Mohan Prasad Gupta for Goapalgunj by-election.

    The BJP is seeking to retain the Gola Gokarannath seat in Uttar Pradesh, which fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Arvind Giri in September.

    With the BSP and the Congress keeping away from the bypolls, the fight is between the BJP’s Aman Giri and the SP candidate and former Gola Gokarannath MLA Vinay Tiwari.

    In Odisha’s Dhamnagar bypoll, there seems to be a tough contest between ruling BJD candidate Abanti Das and BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj Sthitaprajana, the son of Bishnu Sethi, BJP MLA after whose death, the assembly seat fell vacant, as its candidate for the by-election. 

  • Nitish-Tejashwi bonhomie reaches next level as Chirag makes entry

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in the state’s by-elections on Monday sought to clear all doubts ahead of the poll date by promising his full support to deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav for his rise even as LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan to begin campaigning for BJP candidates.

    “I will now promote him”, remarked Nitish during his interaction with media while pointing towards Tejashwi even as he launched a blistering attack on another young leader Chirag by calling him ‘baccha’ (child) in politics. Tejashwi equally reciprocated Nitish’s gesture by modestly smiling when the CM was making a generous remark about him. He also posted a video clip in social media, showing how Nitish was promising to lend his support for his growth in politics.

    Nitish is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj after he was hurt when his boat hit a pillar of JP Setu while he was inspecting Chhath ghats in the state capital. Nitish, however, was unsparing in his criticism of Chirag, who will be campaigning in favour of BJP candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj by-elections, scheduled on November 3.

    Chirag is likely to campaign in favour of BJP candidate Kusum Devi in Gopalganj on Tuesday. “It is fine that Chirag will campaign for BJP candidates, people will know his strength,” he remarked. Continuing his diatribe against Chirag, Nitish said, “Chirag was already in BJP. He had contested the last state assembly election against my party as he fielded his candidates where my candidates were in fray.” Before JD (U) had snapped ties with NDA, it had accused Chirag of fielding its candidates against JD(U) candidates at the behest of BJP to damage their electoral prospects in the last assembly election.

    Nitish said that his relationship with Chirag`s father late Ram Vilas Paswan was very good and old.“I did not only support him but also gave him respect,” he added. This boy (Chirag Paswan) is a ‘bachha’, what he knows,” he remarked. Nitish said that as per inputs received from people, RJD was going to win both seats.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi said that JD (U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, JD(U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha and several other senior leaders were campaigning on behalf of the grand alliance in both constituencies. He said that the video message from Nitish would be played before the electorate in both seats. BJP`s condition is bad without Nitish, he added.

    PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in the state’s by-elections on Monday sought to clear all doubts ahead of the poll date by promising his full support to deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav for his rise even as LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan to begin campaigning for BJP candidates.

    “I will now promote him”, remarked Nitish during his interaction with media while pointing towards Tejashwi even as he launched a blistering attack on another young leader Chirag by calling him ‘baccha’ (child) in politics. Tejashwi equally reciprocated Nitish’s gesture by modestly smiling when the CM was making a generous remark about him. He also posted a video clip in social media, showing how Nitish was promising to lend his support for his growth in politics.

    Nitish is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj after he was hurt when his boat hit a pillar of JP Setu while he was inspecting Chhath ghats in the state capital. Nitish, however, was unsparing in his criticism of Chirag, who will be campaigning in favour of BJP candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj by-elections, scheduled on November 3.

    Chirag is likely to campaign in favour of BJP candidate Kusum Devi in Gopalganj on Tuesday. “It is fine that Chirag will campaign for BJP candidates, people will know his strength,” he remarked. Continuing his diatribe against Chirag, Nitish said, “Chirag was already in BJP. He had contested the last state assembly election against my party as he fielded his candidates where my candidates were in fray.” Before JD (U) had snapped ties with NDA, it had accused Chirag of fielding its candidates against JD(U) candidates at the behest of BJP to damage their electoral prospects in the last assembly election.

    Nitish said that his relationship with Chirag`s father late Ram Vilas Paswan was very good and old.
    “I did not only support him but also gave him respect,” he added. This boy (Chirag Paswan) is a ‘bachha’, what he knows,” he remarked. Nitish said that as per inputs received from people, RJD was going to win both seats.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi said that JD (U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, JD(U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha and several other senior leaders were campaigning on behalf of the grand alliance in both constituencies. He said that the video message from Nitish would be played before the electorate in both seats. BJP`s condition is bad without Nitish, he added.

  • Nitish kumar wary of helping RJD win bypolls

    Express News Service

    PATNA:  By-elections to two seats in Bihar where polling is due on November 3, was billed as a test of strength of the ruling grand alliance in the state led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. But Nitish doesn’t appear interested, as RJD candidates are in the fray from both the seats and he fears the power of 81. 

    For, whenever RJD’s strength in the Assembly reaches 81, it will not need Nitish’s crutches to stay in power. It will reach the halfway mark of 122 with support from all the other parties in the  ruling coalition. Look at the math: 81 (RJD) + 19 (Congress) + 16 (Left parties) + 4 (HAM) + 1 (AIMIM) + 1 (Independent) = 122. In other words, in just a few months, RJD leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav could hypothetically claim chief ministership, cutting Nitish off like an unwanted appendage. That is reason enough to make Nitish upset, political analysts reckon.

    If RJD manages to win both the seats where bypolls are due, Mokama and Gopalganj, its tally would touch 80. One seat held by the RJD has just fallen vacant after its member was disqualified following conviction in a fraud case. If the RJD manages to hold that seat in the subsequent bypoll, it would reach 81. 

    BJP has 77 and JD(U) 45 MLAs. Nitish cited an injury to stay off campaigning in Mokama and Gopalganj. But he actually may be wanting to avoid a bigger political injury to his career. The JD(U), too, is not showing great enthusiasm in campaigning for the RJD, though JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh a.k.a Lalan Singh has hit the campaign trail.

    In Mokama, muscleman Anant Singh’s wife and RJD candidate Neelam Devi is pitted against BJP’s Sonam Devi, wife of another muscleman Lalan Singh.  In Gopalganj, RJD’s Mohan Gupta is in the fray against BJP’s Kusum Devi. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA and Kusum’s husband Subhash Singh.

    PATNA:  By-elections to two seats in Bihar where polling is due on November 3, was billed as a test of strength of the ruling grand alliance in the state led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. But Nitish doesn’t appear interested, as RJD candidates are in the fray from both the seats and he fears the power of 81. 

    For, whenever RJD’s strength in the Assembly reaches 81, it will not need Nitish’s crutches to stay in power. It will reach the halfway mark of 122 with support from all the other parties in the  ruling coalition. Look at the math: 81 (RJD) + 19 (Congress) + 16 (Left parties) + 4 (HAM) + 1 (AIMIM) + 1 (Independent) = 122. In other words, in just a few months, RJD leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav could hypothetically claim chief ministership, cutting Nitish off like an unwanted appendage. That is reason enough to make Nitish upset, political analysts reckon.

    If RJD manages to win both the seats where bypolls are due, Mokama and Gopalganj, its tally would touch 80. One seat held by the RJD has just fallen vacant after its member was disqualified following conviction in a fraud case. If the RJD manages to hold that seat in the subsequent bypoll, it would reach 81. 

    BJP has 77 and JD(U) 45 MLAs. Nitish cited an injury to stay off campaigning in Mokama and Gopalganj. But he actually may be wanting to avoid a bigger political injury to his career. The JD(U), too, is not showing great enthusiasm in campaigning for the RJD, though JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh a.k.a Lalan Singh has hit the campaign trail.

    In Mokama, muscleman Anant Singh’s wife and RJD candidate Neelam Devi is pitted against BJP’s Sonam Devi, wife of another muscleman Lalan Singh.  In Gopalganj, RJD’s Mohan Gupta is in the fray against BJP’s Kusum Devi. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA and Kusum’s husband Subhash Singh.

  • Bihar by-poll: Tough contest likely in Gopalganj

    By PTI

    PATNA: The Gopalganj assembly seat in Bihar is set to witness a tough fight in the November 3 by-poll with the BJP going all-out to retain the constituency and the ruling Mahagathbandhan’s largest constituent RJD leaving no stone unturned to wrest it from the saffron camp.

    BJP nominee Kusum Devi is up against RJD’s Mohan Gupta, whose nomination was supported by the seven-party grand alliance, formed after stripping the saffron camp of power in the state in August.

    Alleging that the BJP is trying to cash in on “sympathy of voters” by fielding Kusum Devi, the wife of Subhash Singh, whose death necessitated the by-election, the RJD leadership pointed out that the assembly constituency falls under its supremo Lalu Prasad’s home district, Gopalganj.

    “Our candidate will win the seat with a huge margin. The BJP has been completely exposed, and the security money deposited by its nominee will be forfeited,” Bihar RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary told PTI.

    Countering the RJD leader, the saffron camp’s state unit spokesperson, Nikhil Anand, said Gopalganj is a “BJP bastion” as the party has been winning the seat since 2005.

    “Subhash Singh was a popular leader of the constituency. People of Gopalganj will give a befitting reply to the grand alliance and ensure victory of our candidate to pay a tribute to their departed leader,” he said.

    Others in the race include Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Indira Yadav, wife of Anirudh Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav, who is brother in-law of Lalu Prasad, and AIMIM nominee Aslam Mukhiya.

    Campaigning for Gupta in Muslim-dominated areas in Gopalganj on Friday, state minister Mohammad Israil Mansuri said, “The RJD candidate will win by a comfortable margin. The BJP will face a humiliating defeat this time as the electorate from the minority community will vote for the RJD nominee. They also know that AIMIM is the ‘B’ team of the BJP.”

    Responding to the RJD’s claim, Anand said the Grand Alliance parties are “spreading propaganda to confuse voters”.

    In the last assembly elections, the then BJP candidate had won the seat by defeating Sadhu Yadav by 36,000 votes. Asif Gafoor of the Congress came third. Notably, by-elections will also be held in Mokama on November 3.

    PATNA: The Gopalganj assembly seat in Bihar is set to witness a tough fight in the November 3 by-poll with the BJP going all-out to retain the constituency and the ruling Mahagathbandhan’s largest constituent RJD leaving no stone unturned to wrest it from the saffron camp.

    BJP nominee Kusum Devi is up against RJD’s Mohan Gupta, whose nomination was supported by the seven-party grand alliance, formed after stripping the saffron camp of power in the state in August.

    Alleging that the BJP is trying to cash in on “sympathy of voters” by fielding Kusum Devi, the wife of Subhash Singh, whose death necessitated the by-election, the RJD leadership pointed out that the assembly constituency falls under its supremo Lalu Prasad’s home district, Gopalganj.

    “Our candidate will win the seat with a huge margin. The BJP has been completely exposed, and the security money deposited by its nominee will be forfeited,” Bihar RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary told PTI.

    Countering the RJD leader, the saffron camp’s state unit spokesperson, Nikhil Anand, said Gopalganj is a “BJP bastion” as the party has been winning the seat since 2005.

    “Subhash Singh was a popular leader of the constituency. People of Gopalganj will give a befitting reply to the grand alliance and ensure victory of our candidate to pay a tribute to their departed leader,” he said.

    Others in the race include Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Indira Yadav, wife of Anirudh Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav, who is brother in-law of Lalu Prasad, and AIMIM nominee Aslam Mukhiya.

    Campaigning for Gupta in Muslim-dominated areas in Gopalganj on Friday, state minister Mohammad Israil Mansuri said, “The RJD candidate will win by a comfortable margin. The BJP will face a humiliating defeat this time as the electorate from the minority community will vote for the RJD nominee. They also know that AIMIM is the ‘B’ team of the BJP.”

    Responding to the RJD’s claim, Anand said the Grand Alliance parties are “spreading propaganda to confuse voters”.

    In the last assembly elections, the then BJP candidate had won the seat by defeating Sadhu Yadav by 36,000 votes. Asif Gafoor of the Congress came third. Notably, by-elections will also be held in Mokama on November 3.

  • Aide of RJD’s Mokama strongman shot dead 

    By Express News Service

    PATNA:  A close aide of muscleman and former RJD MLA Anant Singh was shot dead in broad daylight in Patna on Wednesday, intensifying tension in the Mokama area ahead of the Assembly bypoll. Dheeraj Singh, 42, a resident of Deoli in the Nalanda district, was killed by unidentified armed criminals at Patliputra Colony when he was travelling in a car. The assailants fired at least 12 bullets at his car. Singh, a former mukhiya, later succumbed to injuries.

    Police said Singh, better known as Lalji, was seeking votes for Anant Singh’s wife Neelam Devi who is contesting on an RJD ticket.  The elections will be held on November 3.  It is believed that Dheeraj was killed in retaliation for the murder of another muscleman, Fantu Singh. Fantu was close to another don of Mokama, Viveka Pehalwan, who had an old rivalry with Anant Singh. Both Anant and Viveka had buried the hatchet recently. 

    “The rivalry between Anant and Lalan Singh (husband of BJP nominee Sonam Devi) is a known secret,” Jaiprakash Singh, a local resident, said. Authorities have intensified patrolling in the constituency. “We are keeping a watch on the activities of people with shady past,” a police officer said.

    PATNA:  A close aide of muscleman and former RJD MLA Anant Singh was shot dead in broad daylight in Patna on Wednesday, intensifying tension in the Mokama area ahead of the Assembly bypoll. Dheeraj Singh, 42, a resident of Deoli in the Nalanda district, was killed by unidentified armed criminals at Patliputra Colony when he was travelling in a car. The assailants fired at least 12 bullets at his car. Singh, a former mukhiya, later succumbed to injuries.

    Police said Singh, better known as Lalji, was seeking votes for Anant Singh’s wife Neelam Devi who is contesting on an RJD ticket.  The elections will be held on November 3.  It is believed that Dheeraj was killed in retaliation for the murder of another muscleman, Fantu Singh. Fantu was close to another don of Mokama, Viveka Pehalwan, who had an old rivalry with Anant Singh. Both Anant and Viveka had buried the hatchet recently. 

    “The rivalry between Anant and Lalan Singh (husband of BJP nominee Sonam Devi) is a known secret,” Jaiprakash Singh, a local resident, said. Authorities have intensified patrolling in the constituency. “We are keeping a watch on the activities of people with shady past,” a police officer said.