Heat wave conditions are likely to continue over East India till May 5 and over south Peninsular India till May 6 and abate thereafter. Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds very likely over Northeast India on May 5 and 6, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. On Thursday, the highest maximum temperature of 46.2C was reported at Nandyal (Rayalaseema) over the country. On the same day, maximum temperatures were in the range of 43-46C in some parts of Odisha and Rayalaseema, in isolated pockets of Telangana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; in the range of 40-43C over many parts of Gangetic West Bengal; in some parts of Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Gujarat; in isolated pockets of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Madhya Pradesh and North Interior Karnataka. These are above normal by 4-7C in some parts of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu; in isolated pockets of Assam & Meghalaya, north Odisha, east Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka. According to the IMD, maximum temperatures in the range of 44-47C likely to continue over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Telangana and Rayalaseema till May 3 and decrease thereafter. Heat wave conditions very likely in some pockets over Gangetic West Bengal; at isolated pockets over Telangana, Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu during next 3 days; over Kerala, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on May 3; Odisha, Bihar on May 3 and 4; Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada on May 4 and 5 and over West Rajasthan on May 7. Hot and humid weather very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Coastal Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and Kerala and Mahe during next 4-5 days; Assam & Meghalaya, Tripura, Saurashtra and Kutch on May 3 and 4 and Konkan during May 3 to 5, 2024. According to Skymet, the first pre-monsoon spell of May is expected between May 9 and 11. The intensity and spread of activity will be large to cover parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. The southern parts, the private weather forecaster added, will have a large spread of pre-monsoon thunderstorms, simultaneously covering different pockets. Heat-struck regions of Rayalaseema, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu will be relieved of oppressive conditions. Severe thunderstorm activity is likely over South Interior Karnataka, Southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and farther parts of Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu.
Nothing can stop me from contesting LS polls from Karakat: Pawan Singh
Patna: Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician Pawan Singh said on Friday, May 3, that he is the son of Bihar and no one can stop him from contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Bihars Karakat as an independent candidate. After Pawan Singh had recently said that he would be contesting the polls from Karakat as an independent, Union Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Delhi: Trio Arrested for Railway Ticket Scalping
Delhi: Trio Arrested for Railway Ticket Scalping Three people were arrested for allegedly impersonating Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) and duping Bihar-based people under the pretext of getting their railway tickets confirmed, officials said on Friday. The accused were identified as, Santosh (27), Ashutosh (26), and Afroz Ansari (37), all residents of Bihar, they said. ''These accused took cash, debit cards and other valuable articles by duping innocent people especially the railway passengers hailing from Bihar by representing themselves as TTEs, on the pretext of getting their railway tickets confirmed,'' Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) Sanjay Bhatia said. The officer further said that on April 29, a tip-off was received about one of the accused. A trap was laid near IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon and Santosh was apprehended. During interrogation, the accused admitted that he along with his associates, Rakesh Paswan and Afroz duped a person while they were travelling in the metro on the pretext of getting his railway ticket confirmed, said the officer. ''They (accused) took him to various places near AIIMS and took all of his belongings. Later at his instance, Santosh and Afroz were apprehended from Dabri in Delhi,'' said the officer, adding that they were involved in a total of 11 cases of cheating and theft registered at different police stations in Delhi.
Bihar: Chirag Paswan threatens legal action against Tejashwi Yadav over reservation remarks
Although Paswan and Yadav have been good friends for long, their relationship rooted in the close ties between their fathers, late Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad, respectively, political rivalry seems to have got the better of personal rapport.
Here's What 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Schedule: Seven Phases from April 19 to June 1
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are set to unfold in seven phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1, with results expected on June 4. The Election Commission has revealed the schedule, highlighting that April 19 will witness the highest number of constituencies, totaling 102, while the fifth phase, on May 20, will see the lowest number at just 49. Here's a breakdown of the election phases across different states: Single Poll Date (22 states): Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu. Two-phase Voting (4 states): Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tripura, Manipur Three-phase Voting (2 states): Chhattisgarh, Assam Four-phase Voting (3 states): Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand Five-phase Voting (2 states): Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir Seven-phase Voting (3 states): Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal The Lok Sabha Election 2024 schedule is as follows: Phase 1 (April 19): 101 Seats Phase 2 (April 26): 89 Seats Phase 3 (May 7): 94 Seats Phase 4 (May 13): 96 Seats Phase 5 (May 20): 49 Seats Phase 6 (May 25): 57 Seats Phase 7 (June 1): 57 Seats Each phase covers various states and Union Territories, ensuring a comprehensive electoral process across the nation. In the first phase on April 19, a total of 102 seats will be contested across several states and Union Territories: Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal West, Arunachal East Assam: Sonitpur, Kaziranga, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur Bihar: Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui Jammu & Kashmir: Udhampur Madhya Pradesh: Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat, Chhindwara Maharashtra: Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur Manipur: Inner Manipur Meghalaya: Shillong, Tura Mizoram: Mizoram Nagaland: Nagaland Rajasthan: Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, Nagaur Sikkim: Sikkim Tamil Nadu: Thiruvallur, Chennai North, Chennai South, Chennai Central, Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram, Arakkonam, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Arani, Viluppuram, Kallakurichi, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Pollachi, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Sivaganga, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari Tripura: Tripura West Uttar Pradesh: Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, Pilibhit West Bengal: Cooch Behar, Alipurduars, Jalpaiguri Chhattisgarh: Bastar Uttarakhand: Tehri Garhwal, Garhwal, Almora, Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Hardwar Andaman & Nicobar: Andaman Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep: Lakshadweep Puducherry: Puducherry These elections aim to engage citizens in the democratic process, allowing them to exercise their right to vote and shape the future of their nation. Congress Announces Candidates for Lok Sabha 2024, Rahul Gandhi to Contest from Rae Bareli Congress KL Sharma to Contest against BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi Trinamool Congress Accuses Congress Leader of Promoting BJP Agenda
Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has announced exciting job opportunities through its latest recruitment notification. If you're looking to build your career in the agricultural sector, this could be your chance! Read on to learn about the vacancies available, eligibility criteria, and how to apply.
Its experienced vs first-timers in Bihar
NDA favors incumbents with 4 Lok Sabha tickets, reserving just one for a newcomer in Khagaria, while Grand Alliance predominantly backs first-time candidatesreports Asian Lite News The third phase of... The post Its experienced vs first-timers in Bihar first appeared on India Daily Digital .
Odisha: Furnace explosion in KJS Ahluwalia plant leaves 10 injured
KEONJHAR/BARBIL: At least 10 workers sustained grievous burn injuries following an explosion in one of the furnaces of KJS Ahluwalia Steel Plant on Thursday evening. Four of the injured were critical and shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Sources said an explosion took place in induction furnace number -1 of the plant and molten iron spilled on the workers who were present under it. The plant is situated in Barapada area within Rugudi police limits. The injured workers were immediately rushed to Keonjhar district headquarters hospital and four of them were later shifted to SCB. Dr Pradeep Kumar Naik, a senior specialist in Department of Surgery, confirmed that four persons were critically injured in the accident which took place at about 4.45 pm. Police sources said the injured workers are natives of different states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam. Deputy director and assistant director of Directorate of Factories and Boilers visited the spot to investigate the matter. The reason behind the explosion is yet to be ascertained. Initial investigation revealed about eight workers sustained injuries due to the explosion. Further probe into the matter is continuing, said DIG, Niti Shekhar. Odisha Fire and Emergency Service personnel rushed to the spot but things did not get worse as the incident did not trigger any fire accident. The incident has raised concerns about safety of the workers in the plant. In January this year, an explosion had occurred in induction furnace-2 of the same plant.
Congress KL Sharma to Contest against BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi
The Congress party has revealed its contenders for the crucial Amethi and Raebareli seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. Kishori Lal Sharma, a trusted aide of the Gandhi family, will stand from Amethi, while Rahul Gandhi will contest from Raebareli. Sharma, with over four decades of allegiance to the Congress, steps into the political fray alongside a powerful opponent, BJP's Smriti Irani, in Amethi. This move signifies the Congress's resolve to reclaim its traditional strongholds. A Veteran Congress Figure: Kishori Lal Sharma Originally from Ludhiana, Punjab, Kishori Lal Sharma joined forces with the Congress in 1983, aligning with Rajiv Gandhi. Following Rajiv Gandhi's demise in 1991, Sharma's association with the Gandhi family deepened. He played a pivotal role in managing affairs in Amethi and Raebareli, especially during the absence of the Gandhis. Sharma's Influence in Amethi and Raebareli Sharma's journey in Amethi began in the 1990s when the Gandhi family opted out of electoral politics. He actively campaigned for Congress candidates during this period. Notably, Sharma was instrumental in Sonia Gandhi's electoral debut from Amethi in 1999. After Sonia Gandhi shifted her focus to Raebareli, Sharma followed suit, continuing his support in her electoral endeavors. With Rahul Gandhi's entry into politics, Sharma expanded his responsibilities to manage both constituencies. Beyond Amethi and Raebareli, Sharma's involvement in Congress activities in Bihar and Punjab showcases his commitment to the party's cause. 45 Royal Families Extend Support to PM Modi Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections Trinamool Congress Accuses Congress Leader of Promoting BJP Agenda Traditional Congress Strongholds Amethi and Raebareli have long been bastions of the Gandhi family. However, in the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi faced defeat in Amethi against Smriti Irani, signaling a shift in dynamics. Election Dynamics The upcoming elections on May 20 hold immense significance for both Congress and BJP. Sharma's nomination in Amethi and Rahul Gandhi's candidacy in Raebareli underscore Congress's determination to regain lost ground. Kishori Lal Sharma gears up to file his nomination from Amethi, ready to challenge BJP's Smriti Irani in what promises to be a closely watched electoral battle. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi seeks to reclaim the family stronghold of Raebareli, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral showdown.
Labour shortage casts shadow on Tiruppurs knitwear export boom
The labour shortage is attributed to employment opportunities in UP, Bihar, and Odisha. Despite wage increases of around 30%, attracting local labour remains a challenge for the cluster
Valuables worth 1.20 crore were stolen from filmmaker Joshiys Kochi residence. Mohammed Irfan, the man accused, turned out to be a burglar from Bihar working alone, targeting premium residential colonies across six States. This was his biggest hit by far, reports M.P. Praveen
GST collection in Odisha hits record high in April
BHUBANESWAR: Gross GST collection in Odisha hit a record high in April with an overall tax revenue of Rs 5,902.25 crore registering a growth rate of 17.21 per cent against the national average of 13 per cent. The gross GST collection including CGST, SGST, IGST and Cess, was Rs 5,035.74 crore in Odisha in April last year. Odisha has also breached all previous records in state GST revenue registering a phenomenal growth rate of 32.94 per cent last month. From the overall collection, the state share and IGST settlement was Rs 2,996.05 crore in April this year against Rs 2,253.71 crore collected during the corresponding period in 2023. The collection of state GST exclusively in April was Rs 2,081.83 crore, which is also the highest ever state GST collection since the introduction of GST regime. The collection under all acts monitored by the Commissionerate of CT and GST, including state GST, IGST settlement, VAT and profession tax in April was Rs 3,330.48 crore as compared to Rs 2,544.45 crore during the corresponding month last year. The collection under all acts posted a growth rate of 30.89 per cent. Odisha is among top-six states that have recorded the highest growth rate in collection of gross GST last month. Assam topped with a growth rate of 25 per cent, followed by Bihar (23 per cent), Punjab and Haryana (21 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (19 per cent). GST officials attributed the highest ever collection of tax to the growth in compliances and both domestic and interstate transactions besides the mining revenue. The GST collection now shows the buoyancy that was expected at the time of its roll out, they said. As many as 23.15 lakh of waybills were generated last month as against 20.9 lakh in April 2023. Of this, 12.38 lakh were intra-state waybills and 8.51 lakh were inter-state waybills. The highest 24.4 lakh waybills were generated in March this year. Impressive figures Rs 5,902.25 crore overall tax revenue collected in April Rs 5,035.74 crore gross GST collection in April last year Rs 2,996.05 crore state share and IGST settlement in April this year Rs 2,081.83 crore state GST collected in April
Debutants VS war horses in Bihar battle
PATNA: A keen contest between debutants and old warhorses is on the cards in Bihar as five of its seats go to the polls in the third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on May 7. Though there are 54 contestants in the fray, the fight is mainly between BJP-JD(U)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and RJD-Congress-led Grand Alliance, the latter being a part of Opposition INDIA bloc. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, all the five seatsMadhepura, Supaul, Khagaria, Araria and Jhanjharpurwere won by the NDA. The moot question for the ruling alliance both at the centre and in the state is to retain the seats that it had clinched in the previous general elections when candidates had emerged victorious driving on the Modi wave. The scene is a bit different now. It will not be a cake walk for the sitting MPs to retain their respective seats this time. For example, NDA has fielded the JD(U) sitting MP Dinesh Chandra Yadav from Madhepura. He is pitted against Kumar Chandradeep, an English teacher, who is contesting the polls for the first time. Similarly, in Supaul seat, JD(U) MP Dilkeshwar Kamait has been pitted against Chandrahas Chaupal, a debutant. While NDA candidate Kamait, a retired Railway officer, is seeking his reelection from the seat, the grand alliance has fielded Chaupal. Chaupal, an RJD MLA from Singheshwar Assembly constituency, is trying his luck for the first time to reach Parliament. In Khagaria, the NDA has nominated Rajesh Verma as its candidate while the CPM is fielding Sanjay Kumar. Both Verma and Kumar are trying their luck in in Lok Sabha polls for the first time. In Jhanjharpur also, the NDA has fielded JD(U) sitting MP Ramprit Mandal. He is pitted against Suman Mahaseth, a debutant in the general elections. A former MLC, Mahaseth is a nominee of Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) which is a part of opposition Grand Alliance. In Araria, BJP sitting MP Pradip Singh has been nominated as an NDA candidate while Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam is contesting as Grand Alliance candidate. Shahnawaz, an MLA from Jokihat, is fighting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time. Shahnawaz had won the 2020 Assembly election on the ticket of Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM but he later switched over to RJD. While JD(U) had won four seats, one had gone to BJPs kitty in 2019 Lok Sabha lections. Our top leaders are making all-out efforts to ensure victory of candidates on all the five seats in the third phase. We are convincing voters to vote in favour of NDA candidates to strengthen the hands of PM Narendra Modi, a BJP leader of Araria said. According to the state chief electoral officers office, JD(U) is contesting on three seats, BJP and LJP (Ram Vilas) on one seat each. On the other hand, the RJD is contesting three seats, CPM and VIP one seat each. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded five candidates. 19 Independent candidates are trying their luck.
Kerala: Climate change reality gets heatwave check
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Valerian Isaac, a traditional fisherman from Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram, is deeply concerned about the impact of climate change on his livelihood and the overall quality of life. He used to enjoy his summer with the sea cooling down when folks in the town sweltered in the heat. The situation however has changed dramatically. The sea has warmed up significantly. Consequently, the fish have migrated to cooler waters away from the coast. Previously, we relied on good winds and occasional rains to alleviate the heat. But this summer has proven to be the toughest yet, Isaac said. With the dwindling catch, only a handful of fishermen dare to venture out into the sea in his area. And they are not the only ones suffering. Adverse weather has also affected autorickshaw drivers, tour operators, vegetable vendors and those in the construction sector. As the government considers imposing further restrictions on operations between 11am and 3pm, the livelihoods of even more sectors hang in the balance. Isaac, like many others, had not heard of the term El Nino, a climate phenomenon responsible for warming the sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean and often cited as a primary cause of harsh summers. However, he, along with the rest of the populace, has become acquainted with the term heatwave in recent times. Its sudden appearance in the vocabulary coincided with its confirmation in Palakkad on April 26, the day of the general elections. Such weather was once considered unusual, mostly associated with the traditional hot regions of the country. The India Meteorological Department first issued a heatwave alert in Kerala in 2016, the warmest year on record for the state, primarily focused on Palakkad. This year, the focus has again been on Palakkad which experienced scorching temperatures throughout April, with Thrissur following suit. Subsequently, heatwave alerts were issued for Kollam, Kozhikode and Alappuzha, as temperatures in these districts deviated from the norm significantly. A majority of those belonging to the fishing community in Perumathura in Thiruvananthapuram are spending their time under the shade of coconut palms. The reason being the roofs of their homes are made of asbestos and tin sheets, which increase the heat Weather experts assert the situation is similar across south and east India. An Asia-wide heatwave map published by international weather agencies depicts most countries in the region coloured in red. The temperature rise is attributed to global warming induced by climate change. The impact of El Nino exacerbates the situation, said D Sivananda Pai, senior scientist and ADGM of India Meteorological Department. According to him, the dry weather in Kerala has increased the temperature. In Palakkad, the relative humidity is now in the 30-40% range in comparison to the normal 60-80%. Thats why the temperature remains high. The condition is worse for people living in more humid areas as high moisture content does not help reduce body temperature, he said. Like this year, 2016 too was an El Nino year. While it was the warmest year in recent history, the damage, technically, was limited to a heatwave alert in Palakkad. What makes the conditions worse than 2016 is the absence of summer rain, especially in the northern districts, and the land use and land cover changes because of urbanisation, said Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. Weather experts pointed out the situation is likely to improve by the second week of May when summer rains are expected to be more regular. The El Nino effect is expected to be neutral during the time of monsoon, but the experts have a warning the next El Nino year could be much worse than 2024. What is heatwave? Qualitatively, heatwave is a condition of air temperature that becomes fatal to human body when exposed. Quantitatively, it is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal. Criterion for declaring heatwave Heatwave is considered to be in effect if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40Celsius or more in the plains, at least 30Celsius or more in hilly regions, and 37 Celsius or more in coastal regions. The departure from normal is 4.5 to 6.4Celsius. If the above criteria is met in at least two stations in a meteorological sub-division for at least two consecutive days, a heatwave is declared on the second day. A woman carrying a pedestal fan on a two-wheeler in Kochi. With mercury level going up, residents are opting for various methods to beat the scorching heat Heatwave prone states Heatwave generally occurs over the plains of northwest India and central, east and north peninsular India from March to June. It covers Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Sometimes, it occurs over Tamil Nadu and Kerala too. Impact of heatwave Water stress Health problems Livelihood problems Heatwave in Kerala First alert - Palakkad, in 2016 First alert - Kozhikode - 2020 First confirmation this year - Palakkad, on April 26 First alert in Alappuzha - April 30 Reasons for heatwave Global warming El Nino Absence of summer rain Urbanisation Number of days above 40 degrees Celsius in April in Kerala 2024 - 16 (15 in Palakkad) 2023 - 3 2016 - 14 1989 - 8
If Pawan contestsagainst NDA nominee,BJP will take action
Will serve people as son of Hajipur
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353 city hotels, coaching centres found flouting fire safety norms
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Rajnath: Religion-based quota wont be allowed
BJP not against Muslims; PM Modi respected by several Islamic countries: Rajnath
SUPAUL/SARAN (BIHAR), May 2: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday debunked the opposition charge that the BJP was creating a Hindu-Muslim divide, highlighting the goodwill enjoyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in several Islamic countries. The former BJP president, who addressed election rallies in Supaul and Saran Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar, also urged the []
RJD stands for Rishwatkhor Jungleraj Dal: Nadda
ARARIA (BIHAR), May 2: Launching a frontal attack on the RJD, which is an alliance partner of the INDIA bloc in Bihar, BJP national president J P Nadda on Thursday said the party led by Lalu Prasad stands for Rishwatkhor Jungleraj Dal. Addressing a public rally in Araria Lok Sabha seat in support of BJP []
Shivraj looks upon Vidisha to re-enter national politics
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Bhopal: Sixty five is not the age to press the refresh button in ones career. But, sexagenarian BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a four-time chief minister, is bold enough to reset his goal in life at his current age to re-enter national politics. The never-say-die leader looks upon Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, considered one of the saffron citadels in the country, in Madhya Pradesh to enter the lower house of the parliament after a gap of two decades in this poll by dumping his dream of clinging to state politics till my last breath. I accept whatever responsibility the party assigns to me, has been his constant refrain in his election addresses in Vidisha. Chouhan, known as a fitness freak, was replaced with two-time MLA Mohan Yadav as chief minister after BJP won a landslide victory in the November, 2023 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. He was then kept in the dark about his future role by the BJP high command, leaving him frustrated. I would rather die than ask anything for me from Delhi (referring to BJP high command), he used to say while waiting for his suitable rehabilitation by the party. The party has then fielded him in Vidisha LS seat to move him to Delhi from state politics. I want to take him (Mr Chouhan to Delhi) with me, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently said while addressing an election meeting in the state where Mr Chouhan was present. Chouhan wasted no time to begin preparations for the polls as soon as he was declared candidate from Vidisha by BJP and started touring the constituency as if he is making debut in electoral politics. He had represented Vidisha LS seat five times earlier. Congress has fielded former MP Pratap Bhanu Sharma, a Brahmin, in the seat considering the sizable population of the community in the constituency. Willy Chouhan has created a ripple in Congress by successfully wooing the party veteran and former Union minister Suresh Pachouri, considered the Brahmin face of the grand old party in Madhya Pradesh, to join BJP to nip in the bud any move by it to play Brahmin card to wrest the seat from BJP. Around 2,000 Congress activists in Vidisha subsequently joined BJP following Mr Pachouris footsteps. Vidisha LS seat near Bhopal has always been considered a BJP stronghold, represented even by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1991) and Sushma Swaraj (2009 and 2014). The seat has remained with BJP since 1967 barring in 1980 and 1984 Lok Sabha polls when the incumbent Congress candidate was elected from the constituency. Besides the profile of the seat, Chouhan enjoys considerable influence over the women voters for undertaking various welfare schemes for them when he was the chief minister. Chouhan is eyeing the biggest victory in the polls in the state in Vidisha, a close aide of the BJP leader said.
BJP-NDA is poised for a resounding victory in Bihar under Modis leadership: Nadda
Araria/Muzaffarpur, May 2 (UNI) BJP-NDA is poised for a resounding victory in Bihar under the steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claimed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National President J.P Nadda and emphasised that while the BJP stood for service and good governance, the RJD and Congress symbolised corruption, misrule, and dynastic politics. While addressing... The post BJP-NDA is poised for a resounding victory in Bihar under Modis leadership: Nadda first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .
Bihar Govt Cracks Down on Illegal Sand Mining, Issues Directives to Officials
Bihar Govt Cracks Down on Illegal Sand Mining, Issues Directives to Officials In a bid to check illegal sand mining in the state, the Bihar government on Thursday directed officers concerned in all districts to inspect sand ghats in their respective areas and send reports to the headquarters daily. The decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting attended by senior officials of the Mines and Geology department and other related departments. According to a statement issued by the Information and Public Relations Department, the district mining officers across the state have been ''directed to inspect sand ghats in their respective areas and send reports to the headquarters on a daily basis''. Directions have been issued to erect display boards at all auctioned sand ghats and also install National Informatics Centre (NIC) integrated weighing machine to check overloading and illegal transportation of sand,'' it said. Officials have been asked to ''keep a tab on the entire sand quarry activity and track trucks carrying sand from the quarry to depots and other designated destinations in the state, the statement said. Instructions have also been issued to erect display boards at sand ghats which have not been auctioned. Any sand mining activities on ghats which are not auctioned can be easily checked and strict action will be taken against violators,'' the statement said. The state has been witnessing incidents of violent attacks by the sand mafia on policemen and senior officers of the department. Such incidents are mainly reported from Patna, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Saran and Vaishali districts. The sand ghats along the Sone river in Rohtas, Bhojpur and Aurangabad districts of Bihar and adjacent Garhwa and Palamu of Jharkhand are known for good quality.
Soaring temperatures scorch Eastern and Southern India: Nandyal records sweltering 46.2 degrees Celsius Intense heat swept through east India and parts of the southern peninsular region on Thursday, testing power grids and prompting the Kerala government to order closure of educational institutions till May 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions scorched parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. At least 17 places in these states recorded temperatures above the 44-degree Celsius mark. The mercury settled at 46.2 degrees Celsius at Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, 45.3 degrees at Palwancha in Telangana, 44.3 degrees at Karur Paramathi in Tamil Nadu, 45 degrees at Bolangir in Odisha, and 44.3 degrees at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. As Kerala continued to reel under punishing heat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the closure of educational institutions in the state until May 6. The IMD said the ongoing heat wave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue till May 3 and abate thereafter. The Met office on Wednesday said above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days expected over the northern plains, central region, and adjoining areas of peninsular India. April saw record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast, and southern peninsular India prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. A number of stations recorded their highest ever April day temperature. Five active Western Disturbances led to rain, thunderstorm, and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves. IMD data shows that heat waves in April this year were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heat wave days predicted over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat regions. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka, and Telangana may record five to seven heat wave days in the month. Normally, the northern plains, central India, and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. India saw two spells of heat waves in April from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. The IMD attributes the prolonged heat wave spell over east, northeast, and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and an anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days. The weather office said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, which was the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, it said. The IMD said above normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in April, which was the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second lowest since 2001. According to IMD data, the number of heat wave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heat wave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heat wave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heat wave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period.
Bihar B.Ed CET 2024: Registration Opening Soon, Mark Your Calendars
Exciting opportunities await aspiring educators! Lalit Narayan Mithila University has announced the Bihar B.Ed Combined Entrance Test (CET) 2024. This entrance test opens doors to the prestigious B.Ed and Shiksha Shastri programmes offered by LNMU, Darbhanga. Read on to discover the key details and application process for Bihar CET B.Ed 2024.
We will easily achieve the target of 400-plus seats, says Rajnath Singh in Bihar
Singh and BJP chief J.P. Nadda target the Congress and INDIA bloc over corruption at rallies in Bihar
Misa slams PM Modi with ageist remark, BJP and JD(U) hit back
Misa slams PM Modi with ageist remark, BJP and JD(U) hit back RJD president Lalu Prasads eldest daughter Misa Bharti on Thursday drew flak from the BJP-led NDA in Bihar for an uncharitable reference to the ''old'' age of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bharti, who is the RJD candidate from Patliputra, made the remarks while canvassing in the constituency where she attacked the NDA government at the Centre for bringing in the Agniveer scheme of recruitment in armed services. In a video clip, purportedly of Wednesday, now viral on social media, the Rajya Sabha MP can be heard as saying: ''What did this government do in 10 years? It brought in Agniveer. Young people fighting for the country will be retired at the age of 22. On the other hand, we have an old Prime Minister who at the age of 75 wants a third consecutive term''. Predictably, the BJP flew in rage and sought to remind the RJD leader that her father, too, was at a ripe age. ''PM Modi is much younger than Lalu Prasad. Misa Bharti should keep this in mind and think before heaping insults in this manner,'' said BJP national spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain. JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, whose party is headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and is an NDA partner, asked, ''Does Misa Bharti speak of her father in a similar tone?''. Referring to Bharti's rival in Pataliputra, the JD(U) leader added: ''She will learn her lessons. The blessings of Ram are with Ram Kripal''. Ram Kripal Yadav, a former close aide of the RJD supremo, had joined the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in 2014 when he defeated Bharti and was rewarded with a berth in the Union council of ministers. Five years later, Bharti suffered defeat at the hands of her father's disgruntled close aide for a second time. Covering areas of rural Patna, Patliputra, where voting is scheduled in the final phase, is set to witness yet another straight contest between Bharti and Yadav.
BJP not against Muslims, PM Modi respected in Islamic countries: Rajnath
Supaul: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday debunked the opposition charge that the BJP was creating a Hindu-Muslim divide, highlighting the goodwill enjoyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in several Islamic countries. The former BJP president, who addressed election rallies in Supaul and Saran Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar, also urged the minority community to Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Chirag Paswan files nomination papers from Bihar's Hajipur with fanfare
Chirag Paswan files for Hajipur Lok Sabha seat to secure late father's legacy, supported by BJP amid split from Paras. Emotional departure captured on social media.
Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Chirag Paswan Files Nomination from Bihar's Hajipur With Immense Fanfare
With immense fanfare, Chirag Paswan on Thursday filed his nomination papers from the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, where he has entered the fray to cement his position as the true heir to late father Ram Vilas Paswan's legacy.
Bihar is one of the various states of the country from where many big officers pass the examination every year. Along with its education, Bihar is also known for its history and culture. Every year lakhs of tourists reach Bihar and like to enjoy the food along with the places here. Yes, Bihar is known for its traditional cuisine which attracts the attention of tourists. These dishes make the mouth water of every person who wants to taste the food. Today in this episode, we are going to give you information about the traditional dishes of Bihar which are the pride of this place and are known all over India. Dal Puri Dal Puri is very famous among the people in Bihar. In most of the houses, it is prepared with great enthusiasm by the people. It is also included among the most famous foods of Bihar. If we talk about the method of making it, then it is made just like potato paratha. Instead of potatoes, it is filled with ground pulses. Litti Chokha The delectable taste of Litti Chokha, which is loved by all, needs no introduction. This is a very famous dish of Bihar rich in ghee. It is made by mixing wheat and sattu with spices, making round sharp balls, and dipping them in ghee. The texture of Litti with its crunchy crust makes it a foodie's delight. Chokha is prepared by mashing boiled vegetables (potatoes, brinjal, tomatoes), adding spices and chopped onion, garlic, etc. and served as a complimentary dish with Litti. Thekua Thekua, you will see this dish more during the Chhath festival celebrated in Bihar. It is slightly hard and sweet to eat. It is prepared by kneading ghee, powdered sugar or jaggery, cardamom, etc. together in flour and then frying it. Its color is light golden due to which it attracts people towards itself. Khaja Khaja is a type of dish that is mainly made from flour, sugar, ghee, or dalda. It is very popular in Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal of Eastern India. Silav and Rajgir are two such places, where Khaja is considered better than others. Through Bihar and neighboring states, Khaja has now become popular in other states also. Chana Ghugni Chana Ghughni is a traditional dish eaten as breakfast in almost every household in Bihar. It is very spicy. To make it, it is prepared by mixing fried chuda bhuja with boiled gram, onion and spices. Dudhauri Dudhauri is a traditional sweet of Bihar. This is especially made on the occasion of Holi. The most special thing about this sweet is that it is ready in a very short time. This sweet can be easily prepared in 20 to 25 minutes. It can also be packed on road trips and picnics. Rice, milk, sugar, and ghee are used to make it. It is made in both the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Dhuska Dhuska is a traditional breakfast in Bihar. It is especially eaten for breakfast. It is said that this North Indian recipe goes best with Ghugni Chaat. Its most special thing is that it is cooked using minimum spices. Let us tell you, rice, gram dal, black gram, green chili, garlic, and coriander leaves are used to make it. You can make potato vegetable or salad etc. Suran Chutney Suran Chutney is a vegetable made from Suran and Jimikand which is rich in protein, minerals, and antioxidants. It is also considered good for diabetic people. You can serve this chutney with your meal or in your breakfast. Serve the Bihari Suran Chutney Recipe with Dal Palak, Bhindi Masala, and Phulka for lunch. Tarua Tarua is also a traditional Bihari dish. You can count it among the breakfast dishes. You can eat it with chutney and tea. If we talk about the method of making it, then brinjal, gram flour, rice, green coriander, ginger, green chili, garlic, mustard, salt, and turmeric are used for it. Finally, it is fried in 'mustard oil'. Anarsa Anarsa is also a traditional Bihari dish. It is made especially on the occasion of festivals. Rice, jaggery, cardamom, fennel, and dry coconut are used to make Anarsa. Finally, it is deep-fried in oil. It looks like Malpuve. (PC: ISTOCK)
No provision in Constitution for religion-based reservation: Rajnath Singh in Bihar
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Revanth cites constitutional review panel of 2000, attacks BJP
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy escalated the pressure on the BJP regarding reservation and proposed Constitution amendments, urging the party to clarify its stance on the establishment of the Justice Venkatachalaiah Commission for Constitution review. In a pointed critique during a press briefing, Revanth Reddy highlighted that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration formally established Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
ANALYSIS-Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign
ANALYSIS-Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign A lower turnout so far in Indias long general election has rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modis campaign managers, raising into question whether his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies can achieve the landslide victory predicted by opinion polls just one month ago. The lack of momentum has been partly blamed on apathy among party workers believing victory is assured and seems to have prompted Modi to change tack in his campaign speeches to try to fire up the Hindu majority, the partys support base, and get them out to voting stations, political analysts said. The last major opinion poll had predicted that the BJP and its allies could win three-fourths of parliament's 543 seats at stake on the back of Modi's popularity, strong economic growth, handouts and the inauguration of a Hindu temple on a contested site in the Hindu majority country. At the last election in 2019, the BJP won 303 seats and its allies won around 50 seats. Its slogan before this year's election began was Ab ki baar, 400 paar or This time, above 400. More than half a dozen BJP leaders and political analysts that Reuters spoke to said a lack of momentum in the two initial phases of the seven-phase election have dampened hopes of a huge majority for the party, although they said it was still likely to retain power in the world's most populous nation. What could be affected is the BJP's aim to get a two-thirds majority in the chamber, or 362 seats, which would let the party usher in far-reaching constitutional changes. The fall in polling turnout is mainly due to apathy among party workers and voters, said Sanjay Sharma, one of the members of the BJP's campaign committee in the northern state of Haryana. Some candidates were being affected by an anti-incumbency wave, he said, adding the party was facing a ough fight in the state where it won all ten parliamentary seats in 2019. Modi himself has shifted in his campaign speeches from a focus on the administration's successes in his 10-year tenure to targeting minority Muslims and the opposition Congress party. After the first phase, we saw a definite change of strategy by the PM...delivering Islamophobic kind of speeches, said Arati Jerath, a Delhi-based political commentator. Obviously, he has now decided to polarise the campaign. A total of 190 seats went to the polls on April 19 and 27 with approximate voter turnout at about 66%, the Election Commission has said. The number was only slightly lower than the last election in 2019, although there was a drop of 5-8 percentage points in voting in the BJP and allied-ruled states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. The BJP had been hoping for a high turnout, believing that would signal that its supporters had voted in force. Polling ends on June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. The government bans the publication of exit polls until all voting is concluded. 'BELOW EXPECTATIONS' Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP's national spokesman, said the voting numbers were elow expectations but would not have much impact on the final results. Many voters have become lethargic as they are convinced about the victory of the party, he said. The BJP's shift in tack may have backfired with some voters. We have lost interest because the BJP is seeking votes by communalising the campaign, and not on its performance, said Vikash Kumar, a voter in Rajnandgaon in the state of Chhattisgarh. Kamal Abbas, a Muslim shopkeeper in the city of Lucknow, the capital of politically vital Uttar Pradesh state, reflected the sense of apathy. He said he would not waste time and money to travel to his hometown Prayagraj to vote as Modi's party was set to win the election. Minority votes do not stand anywhere in the majoritarian government... there is no point in wasting time, he said. Anirudh Singh, one of the district campaign managers of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, said the party would have reaped rich electoral dividends if the election was held during February-March, when fervour over the construction of the Ram Temple was at its peak. The party has failed to encash public support for Modi after the inauguration of the temple, said Singh, noting that the religious feel-good mood had by and large been replaced by issues like jobs and inflation. So far there's neither a communal wave, nor a Ram wave, nor a Modi wave in the election, said Jerath, the political commentator, noting Modi would have to re-invigorate his party workers and supporters if he hoped for a sweep. After being battered by Modi in the two last general elections, opposition parties are hopeful of a better performance. The shift in the language and style of Modi's campaign reflected a sense of nervousness, said Jairam Ramesh, a Congress party general secretary. The initial voting trends show there is no Modi wave. In states where we were wiped out in 2019, this time the trends are encouraging, he said. Gilles Verniers, a political analyst who teaches at Amherst College in Massachusetts, said the BJP appeared to have revised its expectations and was feeling a bit rattled at the moment. But it's still a very long campaign. There's still room for events and surprises that may alter the course of the election, he said. The balance of probability continues to tilt in favour of the BJP, but not maybe as strongly as they would have hoped. (Additional reporting by Jatindra Dash in BHUBANESWAR, Saurabh Sharma in LUCKNOW; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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It`s Laloo Prasad Yadav Vs Rohini Acharya In Bihar`s Saran LS Seat
Earlier, Laloo Prasad Yadav had filed his nominations for 2022 Presidential polls as well.
East, South continue to reel under heatwave; max temperature in Telangana to hit 45C, says IMD
East, South continue to reel under heatwave; max temperature in Telangana to hit 45C, says IMD As vast swathes of east and south India continued to bake under the scorching sun on Thursday, with the mercury in two Telangana districts hitting the 44C mark; a top scientist with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) held out no hope of an immediate respite for the state, adding that the maximum temperature can reach up to 45C over the next few days. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, IMD scientist Dr A. Sravani said, The maximum temperatures in Telangana have been on an upward curve over the last few days, It has now shot up to 44C. Over the next two to three days, the heatwave that has been building up steadily will intensify further. While across the state, the maximum temperatures have been upwards of 40C over the last few days, some parts even hit 44C. Some of the state observatories have even recorded maximum temperatures in the region of 45C or more in certain areas. The eastern part of the state has recorded temperatures in excess of 43C, while two districts have seen the mercury breach the 44C-mark. The Nizamabad district saw the mercury hit 44.1C while Ramagundam in the Peddapalli district recorded 44.4C, the climate scientist added. The prevailing condition will continue over the next four days. We will issue an orange alert (heatwave warning) tomorrow. After May 5, the maximum temperature in the state could show a marginal decrease with showers, too, predicted, Sravani added. According to a post on the official X handle of the IMD, Rentachintala in Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest maximum temperature on Thursday, at 46.2C, followed by Tirupathi and Rayalaseema at 45.6C; Khammam and Telangana at 45C; Talcher in Odisha at 45C; Purulia and Gangetic West Bengal at 44.1C; Karur Paramathi in Tamil Nadu at 44C); Malda and sub-Himalayan West Bengal at 41.8C; and Forbesganj in Bihar at 41.4C. The IMD also issued a red alert for severe heatwave in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, saying the condition was likely to persist over the next two to three days. The Met also issued an 'Orange' alert for Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh over the next 4-5 days. Further, according to the IMD, the heatwave will persist in most areas of the eastern and southern states in May, including Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. While the political temperature south of the Vindhyas has peaked amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, in several cities of Telangana, not just the people but political leaders, as well, have had to bow to the unforgiving sun. Amid the intense heatwave, leaders across political parties have been wary not to take carry out campaign-related activities during the day and have been going door-to-door and taking out rallies and roadshows before 10 am or after 5 pm. The district administration has also been running awareness campaigns among voters in the morning or evening. From party offices, shops to religious places, all establishments stay closed in the afternoon hours, with priests, aides and devotees at temples, as well as party workers choosing to stay indoors. Dr Priyanka Ala, the district magistrate of Bhadradri Kothagudem, said, Already, the temperatures in districts are in excess of 45C and we are expecting it to inch further upward to 46 or 47C on May 13, the polling day. Considering the unforgiving weather, we have decided to make special arrangements at the polling stations. One of them is AMF, which stands for Assured Minimum Facilities. We also provide adequate drinking water facilities along with toilets. We have also made special seating arrangements under the shade. Each polling station will have a minimum of two to four tents. Medical kits, including ORS, will also be arranged. Ahead of polling on May 13, the political parties as well as the district administration are making elaborate arrangements to bring the maximum number of votes to the polling stations. The parties have not only arranged auto-rickshaws to ferry voters to their designated polling booths but also cold beverages, drinking water, and tents to enable them to get their fingers inked on May 13. Special arrangements have also been made at hospitals to attend to voters should they complain of discomfort or distress on account of the prevailing heatwave on polling day. (ANI)
In West Bengal's Asansol, it's TMC's 'Bihari Babu' vs BJP's 'Sardarji'
The Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal, known for its mining and industrial belt, faces key issues like reopening closed factories, tackling drinking water scarcity in rural areas, and curbing illegal mining in abandoned collieries. The region, with a significant Hindi-speaking population, will see a contest between TMC's Shatrughan Sinha, BJP's Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia, and CPI(M)'s Jahanara Khan. Sinha, confident of retaining the seat, highlights his commitment to the constituency. Khan criticizes the lack of action by previous MPs on local issues.
In Bengal's Asansol, It's Trinamool's 'Bihari Babu' vs BJP's 'Sardarji'
Reopening factories closed for years, addressing drinking water scarcity in rural pockets and reining in the illegal mining menace in abandoned collieries are the primary issues for the people of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal.
It's Lalu's daughter Rohini Acharya vs namesake 'Laloo Prasad Yadav' in Bihar's Saran LS seat
PATNA: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya's bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once represented by the socialist leader, for the party is being challenged by a namesake of her father. Contestant Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihar's Saran district, the 'karmabhoomi' of his famous namesake, has a penchant for contesting elections. This time, he filed his nomination papers as a candidate of the Rashtriya Jansambhavna Party (RJP) for Saran Lok Sabha seat on April 26. Earlier, Laloo Prasad Yadav had filed his nominations for 2022 Presidential polls as well. He had also filed his nomination papers for the 2017 Presidential polls, which was a contest between the then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, who went on to win, and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who was a native of the soil. However, his papers got rejected in the 2017 Presidential polls since those were not endorsed by an adequate number of proposers. I have been contesting Lok Sabha polls from Saran constituency for the last several terms. I had contested against former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi as well. This time, I am contesting against her daughter Rohini Acharya, Laloo Prasad Yadav told PTI over the phone. He also exuded of winning the election by a comfortable margin. I engage in agriculture for a living and also do social work. I keep trying my luck, from panchayat to Presidential polls. I am leaving no stone unturned to win this election people of Saran are with me, Yadav said. When asked about his opponents calling him 'dharti pakad' (one who clings on to the earth), a term associated with those who like to contest polls for the sake of thrill and publicity, and 'vote katwa' (one who divides votes), Yadav said, I don't care about all these labels. They are my opponents and they will say such things. I contest polls only for the sake of my electorate in Saran. According to the affidavit filed by the RJP candidate, Yadav has Rs 5 lakh cash in hand whereas his wife has 2 lakh cash. He owns movable assets worth Rs 17.60 lakh and his wife owns movable assets worth Rs 5.20 lakh.
Lalu Yadav's Daughter Rohini Acharya Up Against Father's Namesake In Bihar
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya's bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once represented by her father, is being challenged by a namesake of her father - Laloo Prasad Yadav.
It's TMC's 'Bihari Babu' vs BJP's 'Sardarji' in West Bengal's Asansol
ASANOL: Reopening factories closed for years, addressing drinking water scarcity in rural pockets and reining in the illegal mining menace in abandoned collieries are the primary issues for the people of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. The region cradles the mining and industrial belt of the state, with Raniganj, Pandaveswar and Jamuria assembly segments housing coal mines and Kulti serving as the home to some of the bigger factories. Asansol, which borders Jharkhand, has a significant percentage of the Hindi-speaking population, mostly migrant workers from Bihar and UP employed in the mines and factories. While the TMC has repeated Bollywood superstar Shatrughan Sinha aka 'Bihari Babu' as its candidate for this seat, the BJP settled for its veteran leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia who was born and raised in the city. The CPI(M) has fielded Jahanara Khan, a debutant in Lok Sabha polls, in the seat that is also home to a fair number of tribals. Sinha won the 2022 by-elections here by over 3 lakh votes after BJP MP Babul Supriyo vacated the seat, which he secured in 2014 and 2019, and switched over to the TMC. Sinha expressed confidence about retaining the seat by a greater margin this time. I will win more support from people in the constituency this election, he told PTI. Left nominee Khan, a two-time MLA from Jamuria, alleged that neither Sinha nor Supriyo had done much to alleviate the problems of the locals. The poorer tribals and minorities in the rural areas are suffering from tremendous drinking water scarcity, but little has been done so far to solve that crisis, she said. Alleging that illegal mining from the abandoned collieries in the region is rampant, she said the menace must be stopped to prevent land subsidence and mudslides which claim lives almost every year. Acknowledging the rural water crisis, TMC's Pandaveswar MLA Narendranath Chakraborty said water level depletes in the summer months in the mine region which, he maintained, was a atural occurrence. We are working towards providing water connection to homes, and reservoirs are being built in every block, he said, adding that water gets supplied through tankers in many places as a stop-gap measure. Sambhu Majhi, a resident of Kulti, said that he wanted factories, which have been closed for years over issues ranging from militant trade unionism to lack of timely modernisation, reopened. If the factories are back in operation, our children will not have to migrate in search of livelihood, he said. Several well-known factories like those of Sen-Raleigh and Asansol Glass have downed their shutters over the years. According to Ajay Ghosh of Dishergarh, illegal sand mining from Damodar is also on the rise and needs to be stopped. The BJP took a while to officially name Ahluwalia, fondly called 'Sardarji' by many, for the Asansol seat after Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh stepped aside from the contest. In the 2019 elections, Ahluwalia won the neighbouring Bardhaman-Durgapur seat, where the BJP has fielded its former state president Dilip Ghosh this time. Ahluwalia, also a former Rajya Sabha MP, had won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in northern West Bengal in 2014. He won the 2019 elections by a slender margin of 18,540 votes and managed to deliver for his party only one out of the seven assembly seats in Bardhaman-Durgapur during the 2021 state polls. Ahluwalia faces the litmus test of obfuscating TMC's gains in Asansol, where five out of seven assembly segments went to the Mamata Banerjee-led party in 2021. During a recent election rally in Kulti, Banerjee took a dig at Ahluwalia and accused him of playing the vanishing act from Bardhaman-Durgapur during the last five years. He could manage to get a ticket for this seat after putting in much effort, the TMC supremo claimed. Local BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari claimed that having an experienced campaigner like Ahluwalia in Asansol has boosted the morale of his party's workers to reclaim the seat. Brushing aside the TMC allegation of Ahluwalia's absenteeism, Tiwari asked, That way, how many times did we see Shatrughan Sinha in Asansol in the last two years? A two-term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, Sinha had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and switched over to the TMC in 2022. Among his many films, Sinha had co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan in 'Kaala Patthar', a 1979 Bollywood hit based on the Chasnala coal mine tragedy in neighbouring Dhanbad. Calling Sinha an acting legend, the Pandaveswar MLA said the star of yesteryears still commands a crazy fan following. As an MP, he worked for Asansol and MPLAD funds were properly utilised for the welfare of people, he said. Confident about a formidable margin, Chakraborty said the leader meant business when it came to development and maintained a polite demeanor with people. Local CPI(M) leader Partha Mukherjee claimed that people would vote against the ideological bankruptcy of TMC and BJP. All anti-TMC and anti-BJP forces will come together to defeat them and we are sure that Jahanara Khan will win Asansol, he said. Asansol goes to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.
Can a Hindu Marriage be Valid Without the 'Seven Steps'? Here's the SC's Verdict
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court clarified the essential components of a Hindu marriage, asserting that ceremonies like the saptapadi, or the seven steps, are indispensable. These rituals symbolize the promises exchanged between the couple and underscore the sacredness of marriage in Indian culture. The term saptapadi translates to seven circumambulations in Sanskrit. During a Hindu wedding, the bride and groom walk around a holy fire seven times, each round accompanied by vows, signifying their commitment to each other. This ritual, consisting of seven steps or pheras, holds deep spiritual significance, with the groom leading the initial four and the bride the final three. The Supreme Court emphasized that without these essential ceremonies, a Hindu marriage cannot be considered valid under the Hindu Marriage Act. It stressed that marriage is not merely a transaction but a revered institution that forms the foundation of Indian society. The court's decision stemmed from a case where a woman sought to transfer her divorce petition from Bihar to Jharkhand. The involved parties, both commercial pilots, opted to settle their dispute amicably through legal channels. The court rebuked the notion of treating marriage as a superficial event focused on festivities or material exchanges. Instead, it underscored marriage as a sacred bond, highlighting its significance as a fundamental institution in Indian society. Furthermore, the court cited the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, emphasizing the necessity of proper ceremonies for solemnization. It stated that marriages conducted without essential rites like the saptapadi cannot be recognized as Hindu marriages. The ruling also delved into the spiritual symbolism behind the saptapadi, referencing the Rig Veda's significance. It highlighted the mutual commitment between spouses and the notion of equal partnership within marriage. Lastly, the court criticized the trend of individuals claiming marital status without undergoing valid ceremonies, emphasizing the importance of adherence to legal procedures outlined in the Hindu Marriage Act. 'Hindu marriage is a sacrament, not dance and song', Supreme Court remarked in divorce case
Asansol Lok Sabha Bypoll: 'Bihari Babu' of TMC and 'Sardarji' of BJP Face Off
Asansol Lok Sabha Bypoll: 'Bihari Babu' of TMC and 'Sardarji' of BJP Face Off Reopening factories closed for years, addressing drinking water scarcity in rural pockets and reining in the illegal mining menace in abandoned collieries are the primary issues for the people of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. The region cradles the mining and industrial belt of the state, with Raniganj, Pandaveswar and Jamuria assembly segments housing coal mines and Kulti serving as the home to some of the bigger factories. Asansol, which borders Jharkhand, has a significant percentage of the Hindi-speaking population, mostly migrant workers from Bihar and UP employed in the mines and factories. While the TMC has repeated Bollywood superstar Shatrughan Sinha aka 'Bihari Babu' as its candidate for this seat, the BJP settled for its veteran leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia who was born and raised in the city. The CPI(M) has fielded Jahanara Khan, a debutant in Lok Sabha polls, in the seat that is also home to a fair number of tribals. Sinha won the 2022 by-elections here by over 3 lakh votes after BJP MP Babul Supriyo vacated the seat, which he secured in 2014 and 2019, and switched over to the TMC. Sinha expressed confidence about retaining the seat by a greater margin this time. ''I will win more support from people in the constituency this election,'' he told PTI. Left nominee Khan, a two-time MLA from Jamuria, alleged that neither Sinha nor Supriyo had done much to alleviate the problems of the locals. ''The poorer tribals and minorities in the rural areas are suffering from tremendous drinking water scarcity, but little has been done so far to solve that crisis,'' she said. Alleging that illegal mining from the abandoned collieries in the region is rampant, she said the menace must be stopped to prevent land subsidence and mudslides which claim lives almost every year. Acknowledging the rural water crisis, TMC's Pandaveswar MLA Narendranath Chakraborty said water level depletes in the summer months in the mine region which, he maintained, was a ''natural occurrence''. ''We are working towards providing water connection to homes, and reservoirs are being built in every block,'' he said, adding that water gets supplied through tankers in many places as a stop-gap measure. Sambhu Majhi, a resident of Kulti, said that he wanted factories, which have been closed for years over issues ranging from ''militant trade unionism'' to lack of timely modernisation, reopened. ''If the factories are back in operation, our children will not have to migrate in search of livelihood,'' he said. Several well-known factories like those of Sen-Raleigh and Asansol Glass have downed their shutters over the years. According to Ajay Ghosh of Dishergarh, illegal sand mining from Damodar is also on the rise and needs to be stopped. The BJP took a while to officially name Ahluwalia, fondly called 'Sardarji' by many, for the Asansol seat after Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh stepped aside from the contest. In the 2019 elections, Ahluwalia won the neighbouring Bardhaman-Durgapur seat, where the BJP has fielded its former state president Dilip Ghosh this time. Ahluwalia, also a former Rajya Sabha MP, had won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in northern West Bengal in 2014. He won the 2019 elections by a slender margin of 18,540 votes and managed to deliver for his party only one out of the seven assembly seats in Bardhaman-Durgapur during the 2021 state polls. Ahluwalia faces the litmus test of obfuscating TMC's gains in Asansol, where five out of seven assembly segments went to the Mamata Banerjee-led party in 2021. During a recent election rally in Kulti, Banerjee took a dig at Ahluwalia and accused him of playing the vanishing act from Bardhaman-Durgapur during the last five years. ''He could manage to get a ticket for this seat after putting in much effort,'' the TMC supremo claimed. Local BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari claimed that having an experienced campaigner like Ahluwalia in Asansol has boosted the morale of his party's workers to reclaim the seat. Brushing aside the TMC allegation of Ahluwalia's absenteeism, Tiwari asked, ''That way, how many times did we see Shatrughan Sinha in Asansol in the last two years?'' A two-term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, Sinha had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and switched over to the TMC in 2022. Among his many films, Sinha had co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan in 'Kaala Patthar', a 1979 Bollywood hit based on the Chasnala coal mine tragedy in neighbouring Dhanbad. Calling Sinha an ''acting legend'', the Pandaveswar MLA said the star of yesteryears still commands a crazy fan following. ''As an MP, he worked for Asansol and MPLAD funds were properly utilised for the welfare of people,'' he said. Confident about a formidable margin, Chakraborty said the leader meant business when it came to development and maintained a polite demeanor with people. Local CPI(M) leader Partha Mukherjee claimed that people would vote against the ''ideological bankruptcy of TMC and BJP''. ''All anti-TMC and anti-BJP forces will come together to defeat them and we are sure that Jahanara Khan will win Asansol,'' he said. Asansol goes to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.
IMD predicts heat wave in East and South India until early May, affecting Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Central India. West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand experiencing severe heat wave conditions. Kalaikunda, Baharagora record high temperatures. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh may experience heat wave.
Its Laloo Prasad Yadav vs Rohini Acharya in Bihars Saran LS seat
Patna: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadavs daughter Rohini Acharyas bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once represented by the socialist leader, for the party is being challenged by a namesake of her father. Contestant Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihars Saran district, the karmabhoomi of his famous namesake, has a penchant Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Ex-CBI Officer Enters Andhra Pradesh Election Race, Criticizes YSRCP and TDP Dynastic Politics
Ex-CBI Officer Enters Andhra Pradesh Election Race, Criticizes YSRCP and TDP Dynastic Politics VV Lakshmi Narayana, the former IPS officer who shot into fame after he supervised the ''quid-pro-quo'' case and arrest of YSR Congress chief and incumbent CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2012 , has floated a political party and is now contesting assembly polls from Visakhapatnam (North). The Ex CBI Joint Director's Jai Bharat National Party is contesting 15 Lok Sabha seats (10 in AP and 5 in neighbouring Telangana) and 76 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. The retired additional DG rank officer says the agenda of his party is to provide a platform for the peoples voices and provide good governance, if picked by the people, as the the main political parties in the state, the ruling YSR Congress and TDP are family-run parties. Speaking to PTI here he said his party if voted to power, will cater to the needs of all the people with a focused approach on wealth creation, employment generation and welfare with minimum freebies. ''The agenda is to provide good governance, and a platform to the people. Because now if you see the entire state of Andhra Pradesh, you have one Alliance (NDA) and one party (YSRCP). We need to provide another alternative to the people. Because people have already seen what has happened in the previous five years, he said. Hitting out at the major political parties in the state, the former IPS officer alleged the law and order situation in the state is in very bad condition and it should be improved for attracting investments through which youth get jobs. Outlining his vision for development, Lakshminarayana said there is a lot of potential in AP for the tourism industry and food processing industry can be amplified as the state has an agri-based economy. ''We have 974 km of coastline. What are we doing with that? Have you developed any tourism here? A small state like Goa is thriving in tourism. We have so much coastline , why can't we? That is how we want to do it,'' he explained. Asked on national politics, he said NDA's ambitious target of getting more than 400 seats may not be possible. Drawing parallels, he said the earlier government under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also undertook ''India Shining'' campaign before polls in 2004 and the result was different. He opined that it is spiritually good that Ram Mandir was constructed after battling 500 years, and that the country should also aim for having ''Ram Rajya'' for good governance. Replying to a query on the recent arrests of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and BRS supremo K Chandrsasekhar Rao's daughter in money laundering cases, the retired police official said agencies like ED and CBI should be brought under the purview of Lok Pal, not under ministries in the government. He said, if elected, his priority is to to see that AP gets the special category status, Steel Plant privatization is stopped and getting a railway zone to Visakhapatnam besides getting all the bifurcation issues resolved. Narayana unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha polls on Janasena platform from Visakhapatnam in 2019. Later he quit the party. Elections to 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha segments in the state will be held on May 13.
Former CBI Officer Enters Andhra Election Race, Accuses Both YSRCP and TDP of Being Family-Run
Former CBI Officer Enters Andhra Election Race, Accuses Both YSRCP and TDP of Being Family-Run VV Lakshmi Narayana, the former IPS officer who shot into fame after he supervised the ''quid-pro-quo'' case and arrest of YSR Congress chief and incumbent CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2012 , has floated a political party and is now contesting assembly polls from Visakhapatnam (North). The retired additional DG rank officer says the agenda of his Jai Bharat National Party, is to provide a platform for the peoples voices and provide good governance, if picked by the people, as the the main political parties in the state, the ruling YSR Congress and TDP are family-run parties. Speaking to PTI here he said his party if voted to power, will cater to the needs of all the people with a focused approach on wealth creation, employment generation and welfare with minimum freebies. ''The agenda is to provide good governance, and a platform to the people. Because now if you see the entire state of Andhra Pradesh, you have one Alliance (NDA) and one party (YSRCP). We need to provide another alternative to the people. Because people have already seen what has happened in the previous five years, he said. Hitting out at the major political parties in the state, the former IPS officer alleged the law and order situation in the state is in very bad condition and it should be improved for attracting investments through which youth get jobs. Outlining his vision for development, Lakshminarayana said there is a lot of potential in AP for the tourism industry and food processing industry can be amplified as the state has an agri-based economy. ''We have 974 km of coastline. What are we doing with that? Have you developed any tourism here? A small state like Goa is thriving in tourism. We have so much coastline , why can't we? That is how we want to do it,'' he explained. Asked on national politics, he said NDA's ambitious target of getting more than 400 seats may not be possible. Drawing parallels, he said the earlier government under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also undertook ''India Shining'' campaign before polls in 2004 and the result was different. He opined that it is spiritually good that Ram Mandir was constructed after battling 500 years, and that the country should also aim for having ''Ram Rajya'' for good governance. Replying to a query on the recent arrests of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and BRS supremo K Chandrsasekhar Rao's daughter in money laundering cases, the retired police official said agencies like ED and CBI should be brought under the purview of Lok Pal, not under ministries in the government. He said, if elected, his priority is to to see that AP gets the special category status, Steel Plant privatization is stopped and getting a railway zone to Visakhapatnam besides getting all the bifurcation issues resolved. The Ex CBI Joint Director's party is contesting 15 Lok Sabha seats (10 in AP and 5 in neighbouring Telangana) and 76 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. Narayana unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha polls on Janasena platform from Visakhapatnam in 2019. Later he quit the party. Elections to 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha segments in the state will be held on May 13.
Karnataka LS polls: In Phase 2, more women than men voted in the state
BENGALURU: More number of women than men voted in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state that was held for 14 constituencies on April 26. Though it is a marginal jump, psephologists and election officials say that the trend of increase in women voters has continued, showing that they are deciding for themselves and their family. As per the latest statistics shared by the Election Commission of India, the male voting percentage was 69.48, while that of females 69.65. A total of 1,00,16,921 males voted as against 1,00,20,796 females, a difference of 3,875 voters. Also, more women voted in all the four constituencies of Bangalore - North, Central, South and Rural -- and Dakshina Kannada. During the 2019 polls, the male percentage was marginally higher than females. It was 69.55% for males and 67.65% for females. In 2014, the male to female voting percentage was 68.59 and 65.79, respectively. Well-known political analyst Sandeep Shastry said the trend of inreasing women voters is an extension of their empowerment. He explained that women vote in a different way compared to men. Studies have shown that they are now not influenced by men, they have greater awareness and they are deciding for the welfare of themselves and their families. The empowerment of the girl child, improved education and increased awareness have led to a rise in women voter turnout. He also pointed out that in the last elections, the women turnout was more in seven states. As per ECI data, in Phase-1 and Phase-2 of Lok Sabha polls, the states and union territories where larger number of women turned up to vote are: Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshwadeep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Puduherry, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Karnataka. A senior election official said, During our interaction with people on increasing voter awareness, we learnt that women were more keen to know details and vote as compared to men. Though the enrolment of men was more than women for Phase-2, the turnout of females was more. In Phase-3, the women voters are more than males. We will wait and see if the women turnout will he higher than men here too. Phase-3: Home voting Under Phase-3 of polling for Lok Sabha elections, a total of 32,458 people voted from home, which was 95.16% of the total list of 34,110 voters. This is less than the voter turnout for Phase-2 under the Vote From Home (VFH) option, where 46,810 (96.30%) voted, of the total 48,609 voters registered. As per data from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, under Phase-3, 21,892 (94.31%) voters in the age group of 85 and above cast their votes at their home out of 23,213 voters approved under the option. Similarly, 10,566 (96.96%) people with disabilities (PwD) cast their votes at their home out of 10,897 voters approved.
Bihar man arrested for breaking trains window
Nirupam to Join Shindes Shiv Sena
Mumbai: Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena within the next two days. He met Chief Minister Shinde on Wednesday. Sanjay Nirupam will soon join the Shiv Sena, Shinde said after chairing a meeting of Shiv Sena office-bearers. Nirupam was also present during the meeting, which Shinde described as a courtesy visit. After the meeting, Nirupam said he discussed the future plan of action with the Maharashtra CM. Nirupam, originally from Bihar, had started his political career with the undivided Shiv Sena. He was the editor of Dophar Ka Saamana, the Hindi mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena. He was sent to the Rajya Sabha by the late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in 1996. However, Nirupam quit the Sena in 2005 due to differences with the party leadership and joined the Congress. He won the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat in the 2009 elections on a Congress ticket defeating BJP veteran Ram Naik by a narrow margin. However, in 2014, he faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Gopal Shetty of BJP from the same constituency. The Congress expelled Nirupam last month for six years for indiscipline and anti-party statements. It is said that he wanted to contest the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency on the Congress ticket in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, but the seat went to the Shiv Sena (UBT) as part of a seat-sharing agreement among MVA allies.
CBI searches over 30 locations across 10 States/UTs in HPZ Token app case
The searches were carried out in and around Delhi, Maharashtra, including Mumbai; Karnataka, including Bengaluru; Rajasthan, including Jodhpur; Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, leading to the seizure of mobile phones, computer hard drives, SIM cards, ATM/debit cards, email accounts, and various documents
Karpoori Thakur Was In Favour Of Quotas For All Backward Classes Irrespective Of Religion: Tejashwi
Yadav claimed that when Thakur had become the chief minister of Bihar for the first time, all backward classes, irrespective of religion, got reservations in the state
Mystery of MGNREGA demand asymmetry
MGNREGA data shows Tamil Nadu's success in fund allocation and female participation, unlike Bihar. The 'north-south' disparity highlights the need for better implementation and addressing challenges in laggard states.
UP: PM Modi ne bharat ka mastak uncha kia, says Rajnath Singh; reiterates 'abolish Congress' remark
UP: PM Modi ne bharat ka mastak uncha kia, says Rajnath Singh; reiterates 'abolish Congress' remark Union Defence Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency, Rajnath Singh lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts in raising the financial and economic standing of the country and reiterated claims that Mahatma Gandhi sought to abolish Congress right after India got Independence in 1947. Addressing a public gathering in Agra on Wednesday, Rajnath Singh said, I can say with utmost confidence that no matter what is said about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no one can deny the fact that if anyone has done the work of raising the head of India across the world, it is Modi Ji. Saare dunia mai bharat ka mastak uncha karne ka kaam agar kisi ne kia hai toh vo Modi ji ne kia hai, said Rajnath Singh. The Defence Minister also remembered Mahatma Gandhi's statement that Congress must be abolished and turned into a social service organisation after India gained Independence in 1947. I would also like to remember Mahatma Gandhi today. When India gained independence in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi said that now that we fought for freedom under the Congress, that party should be abolished and thereby dissolve itself. There should be no political party in the name of Congress, he said. However, the Congress party did not listen to Mahatma Gandhi and thought that it would remain in power and keep reminding the people that independence was gained only because of their efforts, said Singh. Taking a jab at the Congress, Rajnath Singh said that the wish to abolish Congress is however being fulfilled by the public. I want to congratulate you (the public) because Bapu had said in 1947 that Congress should be abolished and no one was able to do it, but if anyone is trying to end that party then it is you people. You are fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi's wish, he said. Adding to his speech, Singh said that the second wish of Mahatma Gandhi was to eradicate poverty from the country. When Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister, he said support Congress, bring us to power, we want to eradicate poverty, then his daughter Indira Gandhi came to power as the Prime Minister of the country and repeated the same promise, then came Rajiv Gandhi and then Manmohan Singh, all of whom promised to fulfil the same promise of uprooting poverty, he said. Forget about eradicating poverty, poverty that should have been completely eradicated in such a long time under the promise of these leaders did not even decline, he added. Adding ahead, he said, But today I can say this proudly that the world's biggest economists, financial forums and even the international monetary fund have said that PM Modi has done a miracle, and succeeded in lifting 25 crore people out of the poverty line in 8 years. In his address to the public, Rajnath Singh praised former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and reminisced about his governance under him. When I took over the responsibility as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, I received blessings from Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, today I am here, and can't help but remember him, he said. Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji did a lot of work as the Prime Minister of the country. If anyone has to be given credit for initiating work for the broad roads of the country today it is him, Vajpayee ji, he added. Adding further, Singh said, Today, PM Modi is working on the same cause with great speed. I can say with pure confidence that no one can deny the fact that if anyone has done the work of raising the head of India across the world, it is PM Modi. I know this for a fact because I have been travelling to countries abroad. Earlier, when India used to speak on international stages or on platforms, India's issues were not taken as seriously as they should have been. People used to think India was a weak country, it didn't matter whether you listened or not, he said. You will be happy to know that when India speaks at international platforms and forums today, the entire world listens to what India is saying with open ears. This is the standing of India in the present day and this change is not a common thing, stated Singh. (ANI)
Tejashwi takes dig at PM by playing audio clip of promises made in past
Relaying the audio clip through a Bluetooth speaker in an electin rally, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav asserted that there is a huge difference between PMs words and acts; the former Bihar Deputy CM calls him the biggest liar in the world
The Lalit Narayan Mithila University has announced the Bihar B.Ed. Combined Entrance Test 2024. Interested candidates can find eligibility criteria and important details on the official website. The application window is open from May 3rd to May 26th, with a late fee option until June 2nd. The exam will take place on June 25th, with admit cards available for download from June 17th.
Vedanta Group planning to invest $20 bn in 4 years: Anil Agarwal
The Vedanta Group, led by Chairman Anil Agarwal, revealed plans to invest USD 20 billion in its Indian businesses over the next four years. Agarwal highlighted a focus on technology, electronics, and glass sectors alongside other group activities. He expressed a desire to support Bihar's growth and emphasized the necessity of robust policy support.
Heat Waves to Scorch Northern Plains and Central India in May: IMD Forecast
Heat Waves to Scorch Northern Plains and Central India in May: IMD Forecast Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days expected over the northern plains, central region, and adjoining areas of peninsular India, said IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Wednesday. A prolonged and intense spell of heat wave scorched swathes of east, northeast, and southern peninsular India in April, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. Five active Western Disturbances led to rain, thunderstorm, and hailstorms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves, the India Meteorological Department's director general told a press conference. IMD data shows that the heat waves in April this year were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heat wave days predicted over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat regions, Mohapatra said. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka, and Telangana may record five-seven heat wave days in the month, he said. Normally, the northern plains, central India, and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May, except for most parts of northeast India, some parts of northwest and central India, and adjoining areas of northeast peninsular India where normal to below-normal maximum temperatures are likely, the IMD said. Above normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except the northeast and some areas of northwest India, Indo-Gangetic plains, and the central region. Normal rainfall (91-109 per cent of the long-period average) is predicted in the country in May. Normal to above normal rainfall is likely over most parts of northwest India, and some parts of central, peninsular and northeast India. Below normal precipitation is likely in the remaining parts of the country, the IMD said. India saw two spells of heat waves in April from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. Mohapatra attributed the prolonged heat wave spell over east, northeast, and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and a persisting anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days, he said. The IMD said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, which was the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, the weather office said. The IMD chief said above normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in April, which was the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second lowest since 2001. Mohapatra said the number of heat wave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heat wave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heat wave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heat wave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period. Following a decrease in turnout in the first phase of polling, the Election Commission (EC) set up a task force to review the impact of the heat wave. The task force includes officials of the poll panel, the IMD, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Given the Central government's contemplation of the 'one nation, one-poll' concept, the IMD chief had earlier told PTI that authorities must consider weather conditions and the climate in their planning. 'One nation, one poll' refers to the idea of holding simultaneous polls in the country to elect Lok Sabha and state assembly representatives.
Kangana Ranaut has no knowledge of history says Congress' Vikramaditya Singh
Kangana Ranaut has no knowledge of history says Congress' Vikramaditya Singh Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday took a dig at Kangana Ranaut and said that she knows nothing about our country and its history. ...She (Kangana Ranaut) has no knowledge of history, geography, or statistics. Sometimes she says that the country gained independence in 2014 and sometimes she says that Subhash Chandra Bose was the first PM of the country. Leave aside the history of the country or the state, she doesn't even know the history of her party, said Vikramaditya Singh. He further stated that he did not want to make any statement on the BJP candidate. I am only asking her that we want to interact with you with a mandate and a vision with committed leadership, he added. He challenged Ranaut saying, I request Kangana Ranaut that come and debate with me at Mandi's Seri Manch. I will tell you about our vision and what work we have completed... The Congress leader said that if she can forget the contribution by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then what else can we expect out of her? Lashing out at Jairam Thakur, he said, He thinks of himself as the leader of Mandi only, he forgets that he has been the CM of the state. Being the CM also he used to talk only about his region, Mandi. I would urge him to rise above this politics of regionalism... he added further. Hailing Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, he said, I request them to come here and support us. Notably, Himachal Pradesh has four Lok Sabha seats: Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, and Kangra. The BJP had won all four seats in 2019. The elections to the four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh and by-polls to the six assembly constituencies that fell vacant with the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs will be held on June 1. Voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 was held on Friday across 88 Parliamentary Constituencies spread over 12 States and Union Territories. (ANI)
Bihar Raj Bhavan Received Hoax Bomb Threat, Security Beefed Up
An email claiming that a bomb was planted at the Governor's House was received by officials of Raj Bhavan and the Bihar Police on Tuesday
Watch: Tejaswi plays Modis old speech during poll rally
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav on Wednesday, May 1, played an old speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on inflation during poll campaign. The Prime Minister is heard raising issues like price of commodities and then taunting the government (UPA administration led by the former Prime Minister Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Kahe ka 40! Rohit's epic leg-pulling trips Mishra Ji
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis made a strong impact by scoring 62 runs and claiming a wicket on Tuesday, guiding the Lucknow Super Giants to a four-wicket victory in their IPL 2024 match against the Mumbai Indians at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Stoinis was crucial in Lucknow's chase of 145 against the Mumbai Indians, with the home team achieving their target with four wickets and four balls remaining.
FEATURE-Vote or work? Tough call for India's 'invisible' migrant workers
FEATURE-Vote or work? Tough call for India's 'invisible' migrant workers * Migrant workers skip voting to save wages, jobs * Migrants risk exclusion in policy-making * Remote voting mechanisms a must, urge campaigners By Annie Banerji NOIDA, India, May 1 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - To go back home in eastern India, cast his vote and spend time with his wife and three children would be ideal, said Shafiq Ansari, but he cannot afford to lose wages and so has to keep toiling under the sweltering summer sun near New Delhi. Ansari is far from alone. Many millions of migrant workers across India face a similar dilemma as voting takes place in the world's biggest election, with nearly 1 billion people eligible to vote until June 1. Results are due by June 4, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi predicted to win a rare third term. For those like Ansari, a road building labourer from Jharkhand state earning 600 rupees ($7) a day in the satellite city of Noida, the costs of voting are high - from leave without pay, threats of wage theft and job loss to lofty travel expenses, including the expected gifts for family members. If I could get free (train) tickets and paid leave, I would go. But since that is not happening, I will stay and hope for the best, said Ansari, 37. We are here out of compulsion. It is just for work ... because we could not find anything back home, he said, gesturing to about 30 of his fellow migrant labourers, who mostly hail from the impoverished eastern states of Jharkhand and neighbouring Bihar. All the men echoed Ansari, saying they would not go back to cast their votes this month as it would mean losing at least 4,000 rupees ($48) in two days' lost wages and travel costs. In Noida, they can earn as much as 24,000 rupees in a month. The Thomson Reuters Foundation spoke to another two dozen migrant workers in and around New Delhi, with only four saying they would go back to their home town to vote. Of those four, three said their towns were relatively close so it would only cost them a day's wage and a few hours' of travel time. While the number of internal migrants in India has not been updated in official figures for more than 10 years, experts say they could make up as much as 40% of the electorate. According to the latest available figures, albeit from 2011, India's then population of 1.21 billion people included 456 million internal migrants. Their number has likely increased by another 150 million, said S. Irudaya Rajan, chairman of the International Institute of Migration and Development think tank. Migrants are still invisible in our country's policies and programmes, Rajan said. He observed that neither the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nor its rivals had debated or discussed the COVID-19 migrants' crisis in their campaigns or rallies. An estimated 100 million migrants were among the worst hit by a strict lockdown in early 2020, which led to an exodus from cities. Many workers walked home, their adversity unfolding live on television and making global headlines. It can't be a memory lapse. This happened only four years ago, said Rajan. This just indicates that nobody is bothered about them. RURAL DISTRESS Rajan described most migrant workers as short-term, seasonal, distressed, illiterate and informal, making it difficult for them to organise and fight for their rights. He warned that without their say in elections, it could exacerbate their exploitation, and limit their bargaining power as they are left out of key decision making. The problem is that migrants are not treated as a vote bank despite their great contributions to the economy ... This needs to be fixed, he said, urging the creation of a ministry for migrant affairs. Internal migration is bound to intensify in the world's most populous nation as economic slowdown hits rural India, home to 60% of its 1.4 billion people, according to migration and economic experts. Many, especially those under 35, flock to the cities to take whatever jobs they can - becoming labourers, drivers or helpers in shops and homes - to tap into the country's spectacular economic growth and the prosperity of its urban areas. Benoy Peter, the executive director of the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development in the coastal state of Kerala, warned that people engaged in farm-based jobs could face rising pressure from climate change, which hurts harvests and fuels debt, forcing them to migrate. He said that if there were enough well-paying jobs at home, most would not opt o be treated as second-class citizens in the urban centres of India. People can live with dignity, exercise their agency if they have decent-paying jobs at their native places. But that is going to be a remote dream, he said. In the last general election in 2019, more than 300 million people did not vote - migrant workers likely made up a huge proportion of those, according to government data. In the first and largest phase of this year's general election, voter turnout dipped by nearly four percentage points compared to 2019, according to data. M. Venkaiah Naidu from the BJP cautioned in an op-ed days after that voter apathy could automatically allow others to dictate the course of their lives. REMOTE VOTING? All the migrant workers said it was neither feasible to drop everything and go home to vote, nor possible to change their voting constituency to their place of work since most of them hop from place to place doing temporary jobs. India's election panel has been working on alternative voting mechanisms, including proxy voting, early voting at special centres and online voting. It has also considered remote polling stations that would mean migrant workers would not have to travel back to their home district to vote. But these methods have not been implemented due to administrative, legal and technological challenges, including ensuring secrecy of voting. The Election Commission of India did not respond to repeated requests for comment on voting solutions for migrant workers. Most, barring two migrant workers, said they would not vote online or via smartphone apps even if given the choice, citing chances of manipulation. I cannot trust (technology). My thumb needs to push that button, said Binita Ahirwar, a labourer at a Delhi-based cardboard box factory, referring to buttons on electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in India. Ahirwar, 32, said she was not going to go to her home state of Madhya Pradesh to vote over job loss fears. But not everyone is choosing to sit it out. For Kaju Nath, a building labourer in Noida, voting is a responsibility, and to fulfil it he said he had informed his boss in advance about taking a week off to travel some 1,100 kms (684 miles) to Bihar. I will lose about 10,000 rupees ... but at least I will vote for a better future. There are no industries, no factories, no jobs in my state, and I need to vote to change that, he said as he clapped cement dust off his hands. I have to do this for my children, so that by the time they grow up they can have jobs there. They should not have to do what I am doing. ($1 = 83.3303 Indian rupees)
India Braces for Extreme Weather: Heatwaves and Thunderstorms Predicted For These States
The weather department has issued warnings across India for extreme heat and thunderstorms over the next few days. In Gangetic West Bengal, a red alert has been issued for a severe heatwave lasting three days. Odisha faces a two-day heatwave alert. Meanwhile, East India has been placed under an orange alert for the next 3-5 days. IMD scientist Soma Sen anticipates a slight drop in temperatures starting from May 5 due to increased moisture. From May 4, South Peninsular India, including states like Telangana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, will experience thunderstorm activity. The IMD attributes the severe heatwave conditions to fewer thunderstorms in East and Northeast India. IMD's Rainfall Predictions: Thunderstorms accompanied by rainfall or snowfall are expected in several northeastern states over the next 5 days. Hailstorms were predicted over Sikkim on May 1. Heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya from May 1-2, and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura from May 1-3. Very heavy rainfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh on May 1-2, and over parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura on May 2. Rainfall or snowfall with thunderstorms and lightning are expected in northern regions from May 3-6, and over certain parts of North and West India from May 4-6. IMD's Heatwave Predictions: Maximum temperatures ranging from 44-47C will persist over Gangetic West Bengal, East Jharkhand, north Odisha, and Rayalaseema until May 3, followed by a decrease. Severe heatwave conditions are expected over various regions including Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and others on May 1, with a gradual reduction in intensity thereafter. Telangana, Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam are expected to experience heatwave conditions for the next 4-5 days. Hot and humid weather is forecasted for Coast Karnataka, Kerala, and Mahe over the next 5 days. IMD's Maximum Temperature Predictions: Northwest India will see a rise in maximum temperatures by 4-6C in the next 24 hours. East India will experience no significant change in maximum temperatures over the next 48 hours, followed by a decrease of 2-3C. Central India is expected to witness a rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3C over the next 3 days. West India will see no significant change in maximum temperatures over the next 48 hours, followed by a rise of 2-3C. Make a plan to visit this beautiful place with your family in summer, the beauty is limitless How Coconut Water Can Keep You Cool and Hydrated During Summer How Summer Fruits Packed with Vitamin C Boost Your Nutrition
As temperatures soar, states across India announce early summer vacations for schools to safeguard students from the scorching heatwave. From Jharkhand to Punjab, authorities have issued directives for closures and adjusted timings. Uttar Pradesh grants a 41-day break starting May 21, while Delhi's break runs from May 11 to June 30. Other states, including Bihar and Punjab, have also adjusted schedules, prioritizing student well-being amidst the rising temperatures.
BPSC released Final Answer Key 2024 for Bihar Agriculture Department with 1051 Vacancies. Download from bpsc.bih.nic.in using specified steps. Review accuracy before printing for future reference.
Accused in Salman Khan house firing case commits suicide in police custody
One of the accused in firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's Bandra house committed suicide on Wednesday while in police custody. He was rushed to a hospital but died while receiving medical treatment. 32-year-old Anuj Thapan, who was arrested from Punjab on April 26, hanged himself with a bedsheet, sources said. Anuj Thapan, and another accused, Sonu Subhash Chander, allegedly gave the weapons used in firing outside the actor's home on April 14. Both were working for Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The shooters Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21) - residents of Bihar were arrested by Mumbai police from Mata No Madh village in Gujarat's Kutch district. For uninitiated, five rounds were fired outside Salman's Galaxy Apartments in Bandra around 5 a.m. by two bike-borne assailants on April 14.
May 2024 School Holidays: With the beginning of May, summer vacation has been announced in many states. Holiday calendar has been released in schools from UP, Bihar, Delhi NCR to MP, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. There will be summer vacation in most of the states in May 2024. Know for how many days schools will remain [] The post School Holidays: Big relief for school students..! Schools closed for 1 month in many states, check details immediately first appeared on informalnewz .
Subbarao pointed out that for every rupee richer states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra contribute to the centres taxes, they receive less than a rupee, while poorer states like Bihar and Jharkhand receive more than a rupee.
Left grapples with BJP surge in 'Leningrad of Bihar'
Left grapples with BJP surge in 'Leningrad of Bihar' A strong presence of the Left had earned Begusarai the epithet Leningrad of Bihar but the Red brigade here is now grappling with the saffron surge. The BJP fielded Union Minister Giriraj Singh again from Begusarai, while CPI nominated Awadhesh Rai, as the united opposition candidate in the seat where the situation has changed much compared to that in 2019. But the key change, the mindset of the voters, was noticed even earlier. The ideological drift was, perhaps, best witnessed in the watershed elections of 2014, when the seat was won by late Bhola Singh on a BJP ticket, decades after he had begun his political career as an MLA of the CPI. Five years later, with Bhola Singh no more, the BJP brought in here Giriraj Singh, an outsider who inflicted a crushing defeat on local Kanhaiya Kumar. The electoral battle this time is not as eyeball-grabbing as it was in 2019, thanks to the electrifying presence of Kanhaiya Kumar, who had launched a spirited campaign, to which many celebrities like Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhaskar and Prakash Raj had lent their heft. The CPI debutant, who has since moved to the Congress which has fielded him from Delhi North East, was badly hit by the RJDs decision to field its own candidate who cut into the anti-BJP votes, offering Giriraj Singh a victory on the platter, with a margin of over four lakh votes. Five years down the line, though, many variables seem to have changed. The outsider tag against Singh, who hails from Barahiya in Lakhisarai district, right across the Ganges, may no longer stand. But the absence of an over-arching narrative of nationalism fuelled by the Pulwama terror attack leaves the Union minister devoid of the ballast that he would have liked for his dog-whistling rhetoric. Moreover, unlike in 2019, the RJD, arguably the strongest regional party in Bihar, is not trying to play spoilsport this time. Its chemistry with the Left has also been tried and tested in the 2020 assembly polls when CPI(ML), CPI and CPI(M) together came out with a better-than-expected performance. In the assembly polls, the CPI bagged two seats, both in Begusarai, where the RJD also notched up as many, while the BJP-JD(U) combine could win only three. Unlike predecessor Bhola Singh who was a party-hopper, having tried his luck in a number of parties before joining the BJP, Giriraj Singh is a dyed-in-the-wool RSS man, who had earned his spurs as an ABVP activist. Tall and powerfully built, the Union minister has proudly prefixed Shandilya, his gotra, to his profile on X, and moves around sporting a fiery red tilak on his broad forehead and a tuft of hair dangling from the crown, warning all those who come his way that here is a man who wears his Hindutva on his sleeve. Singhs incendiary election speeches in 2014 had earned him a 48-hour ban by the Election Commission which again censured him five years later for utterances targeting a particular community. The hardliner is clearly unfazed as was evident from the speech he gave after he filed his nomination papers, declaring, with unmatched swagger, We do not need the votes of pro-Pakistan traitors''. A complaint was promptly raised before the EC by veteran CPI leader Shatrughan Singh who highlighted communal overtones in the BJP leaders speech and claimed that if the Union minister had, indeed, credible information that Begusarai had pro-Pakistan elements then he must be tried for not raising the matter with the authority at his command. A video recently went viral in which Singh can be seen accosted by locals seeking an apology for ''calling the people of Begusarai deshdrohi (traitors)''. ''We voted for you despite you being an outsider. A son of our soil (Kanhaiya) lost to you. But you did nothing for the area. Now you should apologise for using such language'', they can be heard saying in the local dialect. ''Am I not a son of Begusarai'', Singh replies, with indignation writ large on his face. Notably, the CPI is also Singhs principal challenger, with former MLA Awadhesh Rai as the party candidate. The choice of Rai, an OBC Yadav, appears counterintuitive in a seat which has, so far, always elected an upper caste Bhumihar, except in 2009 when JD(U)'s Monazir Hassan became the Begusarai MP. The RJD, which has been the most preferred party of the numerically powerful Yadavs, seems all too mindful of the challenge. A reason why the RJD's de facto leader Tejashwi Yadav accompanied Rai when he filed nomination papers. Yadav targeted Giriraj Singh for ''doing nothing except Hindu versus Muslims in the last five years''. The RJD leader also asked voters, at an election rally, ''Do not trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee. These people are like Chinese goods which come with no guarantee''. On May 13, when electors will cast their votes in Begusarai, they will, among other things, demonstrate whether the chemistry between RJD and Left is potent enough in a parliamentary election. The constituency has 21.86 lakh eligible voters.
Cylinder explosion in Bihar's Kishanganj claims lives of mother and three children
Cylinder explosion in Bihars Kishanganj claims lives of mother and three children
Former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao has argued that enlightened leadership at both the Centre and State levels is necessary to resolve the north-south divide in determining the distribution of the tax pool among states. He cited the fact that richer states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra receive less than a rupee for every rupee they contribute to the Centre's taxes, while poorer states like Bihar and Jharkhand receive more than a rupee.
Need for Enlightened Leadership to Address Regional Disparities in Tax Pool Distribution: Subbarao
Need for Enlightened Leadership to Address Regional Disparities in Tax Pool Distribution: Subbarao Former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao has opined that only enlightened leadership at Centre and state levels can resolve the complex north-south divide in deciding on the distribution of the tax pool among states, saying it is beyond the remit of the Finance Commission. Subbarao, who held various positions including the finance secretary of Andhra Pradesh and Union finance secretary, and wrote extensively on issues in fiscal federalism in his new book titled 'Just A Mercenary?: Notes from My Life and Career' further said that horizontal sharing of the divisible pool of taxes has always been a contentious issue but will be even more so in this round. ''This (north-south divide in deciding on the distribution of the tax pool among states) is a complex political challenge beyond the remit of the Finance Commission. ''Resolving it will demand enlightened leadership at central and state levels that can look beyond politics and build a consensus around an optimal way forward,'' he told PTI. He pointed out that for every rupee they contribute to the centre's taxes, richer states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra get back less than a rupee while poorer states like Bihar and Jharkhand receive more than a rupee. ''Such cross subsidization of poorer states by richer ones is inevitable in a large and diverse country like ours and has, in fact, been an accepted principle,'' Subbarao said. The 16th Finance Commission (16th FC) has been set up and the debate of economically and socially better-off southern and western states 'subsidising' the northern and eastern states has begun again ''As you say, there is already an emerging north-south divide on the economy front. The question is, are we hitting the limits of such cross subsidization?,'' he asked. According to Subbarao, many headline numbers suggest that the southern states are doing better in terms of infrastructure, private investment, social indicators and rule of law which has put them on a virtuous cycle of growth and prosperity and widened the north-south gap. ''Given their urge to move up faster, how much more of cross subsidization will the southern states countenance? And for how much longer?,'' he wondered. While noting that the looming delimitation that is due in 2026 based on updated population data, Subbarao said over the last few decades, population growth rates in the southern states have declined more sharply than in the north. ''If as a consequence, the southern states lose their relative share of parliament seats, they will face the double whammy of reduced political clout combined with an open-ended commitment to cross subsidization,'' he said. Subbarao was finance secretary (2007-08) before taking over as the governor of the RBI for five years on September 5, 2008, a few days before the breakout of the Lehman Brothers crisis. Lehman Brothers crashed into bankruptcy on September 16, making it the biggest corporate failure in history. Asked to comment on criticism that he did not buy up dollars when there were huge inflows during 2010-11, and instead allowed the rupee to appreciate, Subbarao said that was a deliberate decision informed by several considerations. ''Holding reserves is not costless, especially as our reserves are built from borrowed resources,'' Subbarao said, adding, RBI intervention in the market shifts the burden of adjustment from one segment of the economy to another. He further explained that the stated policy of the Reserve Bank is to intervene in the market only to prevent volatility in the exchange rate. ''Juxtapose my alleged inaction against that policy. ''As I saw it, there was no volatility in the exchange rate during 2010-11 to justify intervention. I felt obliged to walk the talk,'' he said. Subbarao noted that if the Reserve Bank were to step in every time the exchange rate moved, they would happily outsource their external management to the Reserve Bank. ''That would be a costly moral hazard,'' he said. Subbarao was at the helm of RBI during the taper tantrums in 2012-13 when the rupee crashed by 20 per cent peak to trough. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the 90th anniversary celebrations of the RBI, Subbarao said, to make the rupee more internationally acceptable, the central bank should become less interventionist, besides fulfilling other conditions. Responding to a question on freebies, Subbarao said in a poor country where millions struggle to make a decent livelihood, transfer payments to the most vulnerable segments are necessary, indeed even mandatory. ''But that has to be within limits especially as these freebies are financed by borrowing,'' he pointed out. On the other hand, Subbarao said, competitive populism like what is unfolding -- political parties outdoing each other in wooing voters with freebies -- is fiscally perilous. ''I believe all political parties are guilty of this and trying to apportion blame will be a wrong start,'' he said. Former RBI governor emphasised that there is a strong case for the central government that comes into office post elections to issue a white paper explaining to the larger public in plain language the costs and benefits of freebies.
CBI Cracks Down on App-Based Investment Scam Across India
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a nationwide crackdown, raiding 30 locations in 10 states and union territories in connection with a fraudulent investment scheme linked to the HPZ Token App. According to officials, the CBI initiated action after filing a case related to a scam where the public was duped into investing in fake cryptocurrency mining machine rentals. The operation, which spanned across the country, concluded on Tuesday night. The case involves two private companies, Shigoo Technology Private Limited and Lillian Technocab Private Limited, along with their directors, who have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. During the raids conducted in Delhi-NCR, Jodhpur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, the CBI seized digital devices like laptops, mobile phones, ATM and debit cards, along with numerous email accounts. The HPZ Token App lured users with promises of substantial profits through investments in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies using mining machines. The perpetrators employed tactics to convince victims to invest in the app, claiming astronomical returns, stated the CBI. Investigations have revealed around 150 bank accounts associated with the accused, which were used to gather funds from investors. Initially, these funds were used to make payouts to instill trust, but later they were illegally transferred out of India, often converted into cryptocurrency or routed through Hawala transactions, the CBI added in a statement on Wednesday. Bomb Threats Shake Delhi-NCR Schools Updates: Nearly 100 Institutions on Alert Breaking News! Bomb Threat Grips Delhi Schools
LSG vs MI: Hardik Pandya slapped with Rs 24 Lakh fine for slow over-rate offence
Mumbai IndiansCaptain Hardik Pandya has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rateduring Match 48 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on April 30, 2024. As it was his teams second offence of the season under [] The post LSG vs MI: Hardik Pandya slapped with Rs 24 Lakh fine for slow over-rate offence appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .
