Bihar MLC polls: Jan Suraaj opens account, JD(U)'s Neeraj Kumar 'wins' Patna Graduates seat

The Jan Suraaj Party opened its account in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, with Suresh Prasad Rai defeating sitting Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha by 324 votes in the Darbhanga Teachers constituency. The results also saw wins for the BJP, JD(U), RJD and an independent candidate in other constituencies, while counting continued for some seats.

Jan Suraaj Opens Account in Bihar MLC Polls, Defeats Congress Sitting MLC in Darbhanga

Suresh Prasad Rai beats Madan Mohan Jha by 324 votes in the Darbhanga Teachers seat; BJP and RJD also register wins as counting continues for other constituencies.

Bihar MLC polls: Ram Kripal Yadav says NDA setback in Teachers seat matter of concern

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 28 (IANS) Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav on Wednesday said NDA candidate Neeraj Kumar had practically won the Patna Graduate constituency in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, while expressing disappointment over Professor Nawal Kishor Yadav falling behind in the Teachers constituency. Two Legislative Council elections were underway in Patna, one for the Graduate constituency and the other for Teachers. The results of both are almost in. In the Graduate constituency, the NDA candidate, Shri Neeraj Kumar, has practically won. However, in the Teacher constituency, Professor Nawal Kishor Yadav has fallen behind. I feel this should not have happened, Ram Kripal Yadav told IANS. He highlighted Professor Nawal Kishor Yadavs five-term record of raising teachers concerns and working to resolve their problems. Nawal ji had been continuously fighting for teachers for five terms, making every possible effort to resolve their issues and firmly raising their voice from the government level up to universities. But perhaps success could not be achieved this time, even though people had elevated him up the ladder of success five times before, he said. Describing the development as a setback, the minister added, It is definitely a setback for all of us, and I consider it a setback for teachers as well. Meanwhile, Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar said the election results reflected the peoples decision in a democracy and that the NDA was leading in the eight Graduate and Teachers constituencies. In a democracy, the people are the ultimate decision-makers. Elections were held in eight Graduate and Teachers constituencies, and the results are now coming in, with the NDA leading, he said. Prem Kumar said the NDA was confident of winning five seats, while acknowledging the possibility of losing three. We are confident of winning five seats, while there is a possibility of losing three seats. Our party and the NDA will review the reasons for these possible defeats so that we can perform better in future elections, he said. Claiming that the political atmosphere across the country favoured the NDA, he added that Prime Minister Narendra Modis efforts had played an important role. Minister Santosh Suman said, Last time, we had three seats, while this time we are winning four to five seats. One candidate supported by us, who was contesting as a rebel candidate, has also won from one seat. Overall, if we make a comparative assessment, our results are better than last time. However, we had expected more, so we will identify the reasons and try to improve. JD(U) National General Secretary, Shyam Rajak, however, urged caution while commenting on the results, saying that the party was still awaiting official information on some seats. We have received information about some seats, but there is no official information about the remaining seats. Until the official reports are received, commenting on these matters serves no purpose. Let the complete official information about all eight seats come in first, and then we can comment, Rajak said. According to the results and counting trends available, results for five of the eight constituencies had been declared, while counting was continuing in the remaining three. In the Saran Teachers constituency, Independent candidate Dr Rahul Raj was declared elected. In the Patna Teachers constituency, Dr Sanjeev Kumar of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won. In the Patna Graduate constituency, JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar was declared the winner, while BJP candidate Narendra Singh won the Tirhut Teachers constituency. Dr Suresh Prasad Rai of Jan Suraaj was elected from the Darbhanga Teachers constituency.

Jan Suraaj makes inroads into Bihar MLC with victory in Darbhanga Teachers constituency

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 28 (IANS) Following Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishors triumph in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, the party has expanded its footprint in state politics by securing its first seat in the Bihar Legislative Council. In a significant political breakthrough, Jan Suraaj party candidate Suresh Prasad Rai won the Darbhanga Teachers MLC seat, defeating sitting Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha by a margin of 324 votes. According to official election data, Suresh Prasad Rai polled 2,574 votes against Madan Mohan Jhas 2,187. Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Ramdev Rai received 1,498 votes, while Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) nominee Kumar Raut managed 126 votes. The multi-cornered contest among the Congress, RJD, and CPI(M) fragmented the traditional opposition vote share, creating a clear opening for the newly formed Jan Suraaj party. The outcome dealt a major blow to Congress. Madan Mohan Jha, a former Bihar Congress president and former cabinet minister in the Grand Alliance government, had represented the constituency for the previous two terms. His defeat reduces the partys representation in the Upper House of the state legislature to just a single seat. Suresh Prasad Rai, who previously contested from the same constituency as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and finished runner-up, demonstrated consistent strength throughout the vote count. He took an early lead in first-preference votes and maintained his advantage until the final rounds. This victory strengthens the Jan Suraaj partys effort to position itself as a viable political alternative to Bihars established alliances. The party, launched by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, has aimed to transform its grassroots campaign momentum into legislative presence. Jan Suraajs entry into the Upper House marks another milestone in its ongoing electoral debut. Voting for the 8 MLC seats, including four teachers and four graduate seats, was held on October 23, and counting started on October 27 at 8 a.m. With this, the Election Commission of India has announced the results of all four Teachers' constituencies of Bihar. The RJD candidate, Dr Sanjiv Kumar, emerged victorious on the Patna Teachers seat, while Rahul Raj, an Independent candidate, won the Saran Teachers seat. On the Tirhut Teachers seat, BJP candidate N.P. Singh won the contest in a tight finish.

Bihar: Rahul Raj wins Saran Teachers MLC seat as an independent candidate

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 27 (IANS) Independent candidate Rahul Raj, a BJP rebel, has won the Saran Teachers constituency in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, defeating his nearest rival by more than 800 votes. The victory dealt a setback to the NDA, RJD and Jan Suraaj candidates in the constituency. After the counting of second-preference votes, Rahul Raj has emerged victorious by 833 votes. In his first reaction after winning the election, Rahul Raj stated that he had championed the cause of teachers, and in return, they had extended their support to him. He expressed his gratitude to the teachers for this. He further pledged to raise their long-pending demands in the Legislative Council. Rahul Raj, a resident of Chhapra, is a member of the BJPs state executive committee and serves as the block pramukh of Revelganj. A teacher by profession, he is an associate professor at VIP College. He contested the election as an independent after rebelling against his party. The NDA had fielded JD(U) candidate Anand Pushkar, while the RJD nominated Jayram Yadav. Jan Suraaj fielded incumbent MLC Afaq Ahmed. However, Rahul Raj emerged victorious, defeating the candidates backed by the major political parties. Meanwhile, results and trends are emerging from the counting of votes for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats, for which polling was held on October 23. The constituencies include the Kosi Graduates seat and the Graduates and Teachers seats in Patna, Darbhanga and Tirhut, along with the Saran Teachers seat. In the Tirhut Teachers constituency, NDA-backed BJP candidate Narendra Prasad Singh has secured victory, defeating CPI candidate Sanjay Singh by 594 votes. Independent candidate Bhushan Jha finished second after the elimination rounds, while Sanjay Singh was pushed to third place. In the Patna Teachers constituency, initial trends showed BJP candidate Nawal Kishore Yadav leading, while RJD candidate Sanjeev Kumar was trailing. Counting was underway, and the margin could change as further rounds were completed. The outcome in Patna Teachers and the remaining constituencies will depend on the completion of counting and official declarations by the respective returning officers.

Bihar MLC polls: 82.85% turnout in teachers seats; 53.42% in graduates constituencies

Patna Graduates constituency recorded the highest turnout at 57.56%, followed by Darbhanga and Kosi at 54.73% each and Tirhut at 48.51%

Bihar MLC polling ends; graduate turnout at 43.87 pc and teachers at 74.55 pc

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 23 (IANS) Polling for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats concluded at 4 pm on Friday, with the four teachers constituencies recording a higher voter turnout than the four graduate constituencies. According to Election Commission data, turnout stood at 43.87% in the graduate constituencies and 74.55% in the teachers constituencies as of 4 pm. Polling began at 8 am and continued until 4 pm. A total of 150 candidates were in the fray for the eight seats, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 27. Among the graduate constituencies, Patna recorded a turnout of 36.19%, Tirhut 42.15%, Darbhanga 42% and Kosi 52.51%. Kosi registered the highest turnout among the four graduate constituencies, while Patna recorded the lowest. In the teachers constituencies, Saran recorded the highest turnout at 87.16%, followed by Darbhanga at 79%, Tirhut at 78.10% and Patna at 56.89%. The overall turnout in the teachers constituencies was substantially higher than in the graduate constituencies. Meanwhile, RJD leader and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav expressed confidence that his party would win all eight seats, claiming that its candidates were receiving positive feedback from voters. He also alleged electoral irregularities, including vote theft, the presence of fake voters and fraudulent voting. Tejashwi further accused the administration of using money and government machinery to influence the election. These allegations were not independently verified. On the other hand, incumbent BJP MLC and candidate Naval Kishore Yadav expressed confidence in retaining the Patna Teachers Constituency seat. After casting his vote at DAV School in Rajvanshi Nagar, Patna, he predicted a decisive victory, using the cricketing metaphor of hitting a six. Naval Kishore Yadav said teachers in Patna had consistently supported him and pointed out that he had won the seat five consecutive times over a period of 30 years. He expressed confidence that the teaching community would back him again. The BJP candidate further claimed that his opponents would lose their security deposits and that his victory margin would be larger than in previous elections. He alleged that his opponents were making baseless accusations because of the support he enjoyed among teachers. With polling now over, attention has shifted to the counting of votes on October 27, when the electoral fortunes of all 150 candidates will be decided.

NMIA adds nine new destinations to boost connectivity to tourism hubs

The new destinations are Agatti, via Goa-Mopa, Darbhanga, Guwahati, Jalgaon, Jodhpur, Ranchi, Bagdogra, Sindhudurg and Udaipur. The routes are expected to improve access to tourism, heritage and regional economic centres across western, northern, eastern and north-eastern India

Man held on charge of raping minor kin in Darbhanga

Dravidian grandeur in city: Darbhanga barwari recreates Meenakshi Temple

Darbhanga graduates constituency braces for four-way electoral tussle

Darbhanga teachers constituency sees multi-cornered fight for MLC post

Bihar govt transfers Rs 112.14 crore to 1.60 lakh flood-hit families

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 12 (IANS) The Bihar government has disbursed Rs 112.14 crore in financial assistance to flood-affected families across the state. On Monday, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary transferred an ex gratia amount of Rs 7,000 each to the bank accounts of 1.60 lakh beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). During a programme at the Chief Ministers Secretariat, Samrat Choudhary directed all District Magistrates (DMs) to promptly submit details of flood-affected families who have not yet received the assistance so that eligible beneficiaries can also be provided relief. He announced that the agricultural input subsidy for farmers affected by the floods would be transferred to their accounts on October 14. The assistance is intended to provide relief to farmers whose crops were damaged by the flooding. The Chief Minister also directed officials to complete repairs to flood-damaged infrastructure before Diwali. He stressed the need to accelerate relief and rehabilitation work to restore normalcy in affected areas as quickly as possible. Recent flooding in the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and Kamla Balan rivers has affected approximately 55 lakh people in Bihar. Many families have suffered damage to their homes, crops and other property. The impact remains visible in Bhagalpur, Patna, Munger, Bhojpur and Buxar districts, where erosion along the Ganga continues despite a decline in the rivers water level. In Naugachia, several multi-storey houses have reportedly been swept into the river because of severe erosion. Besides the Ganga basin, soil erosion also happened in the Gandak, Bagmati, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, and Kamla Balan basins and several districts like West Champaran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, and Madhunai are affected by it. The Chief Minister has instructed officials to speed up relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-hit areas. Priority has been given to repairing damaged roads, restoring essential infrastructure and ensuring the timely provision of necessary services. The Bihar government aims to provide financial relief to affected families while completing restoration work within the stipulated timeline.

16 people drowned to death in Bihar on the first day of Dussehra festival

According to police officials, most of the death reports from drowning have come from the districts of Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi.

Gujarat: Ahmedabad railway division records Rs 852 crore revenue in Sep

Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Oct 3 (IANS) The Ahmedabad division of Western Railway recorded its highest-ever monthly passenger revenue of Rs 208.60 crore in September this year, helping the division earn around Rs 852 crore from freight, passenger and parcel operations during the month. Passenger earnings rose 34.54 per cent from Rs 155.05 crore in September 2025 to Rs 208.60 crore this September, while freight revenue increased 6.88 per cent to Rs 636.08 crore from Rs 595.16 crore a year earlier. Parcel revenue stood at Rs 7.40 crore, registering a 20 per cent increase over the previous year. Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash congratulated officers and employees of the commercial, operations and other concerned departments and appreciated their continued efforts behind the performance. Freight operations saw several new records during the month. Western Carriers India Pvt. Ltd. at Devaliya recorded its best monthly freight revenue of Rs 4.87 crore, surpassing its previous high of Rs 4.55 crore in July 2026. Naliya Goods Shed recorded Rs 4.75 crore against its previous best of Rs 3.96 crore, while Samakhiyali Goods Shed registered Rs 8.64 crore, exceeding its earlier record of Rs 8.49 crore recorded in March. Kandla Port Goods Shed was notified as a Container Rail Terminal for container traffic from September 30 and is set to operate round the clock. Naroda Goods Shed was notified from September 16 as an alternative goods shed for Kankaria. The division also expanded freight business to new commodities, destinations and customers. Shri Renuka Sugar Ltd loaded five rakes of sugar in BCN wagons from Gandhidham to different destinations, generating Rs 2.85 crore in additional revenue. Three rakes of imported steam coal loaded by DB Tradelink Pvt. Ltd. from Kandla Port Dock Rail Terminal to Dadhdevi in Kota Division generated Rs 2.12 crore. Railhaul Logistics Pvt. Ltd. operated three mini rakes of mixed commodities from Kankaria to Mirza in Rangiya Division, generating Rs 97.18 lakh. Two mini rakes of imported fertiliser were loaded by Shri Khaitan Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd. At the same time, Threeline Logistics & Shipping Pvt. Ltd. operated a rake of bamboo pulp from Kandla Port Dock Rail Terminal to Bamanheri, generating Rs 29.53 lakh. In the parcel segment, an e-auction held on September 16 and 17 resulted in the successful leasing of four assets. The contracts are expected to generate Rs 3.61 crore over three years, including around Rs 61 lakh during 2026-27. Passenger services were also augmented to handle festival and fair-related demand. Asarva-Khedbrahma Mela Special trains were operated from September 21 to October 1 for the Bhadarvi Poonam fair. The AhmedabadDarbhanga Special was extended up to November 27 to cater to the Diwali and Chhath Puja rush, while the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central TOD Special was operated from September 10 to November 26 for the Navratri, Diwali and Chhath Puja period. A total of 25 special train trips were operated, benefiting around 36,000 passengers and generating Rs 3.02 crore in passenger revenue. Ticket-checking drives during the month resulted in 475 cases during three fortress checks, 375 cases during two ambush checks and 1,557 cases during nine special fortress checks. Fines of Rs 4.56 lakh, Rs 3.50 lakh and Rs 16.54 lakh, respectively, were collected; around 160 anti-littering cases resulted in Rs 1.27 lakh in fines. In contrast, 16 anti-smoking cases led to another Rs 32,000 being collected. The division also continued to expand its freight and logistics infrastructure. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Shivalakha Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) and dedicated the Bhimasar, Devaliya and Chandisar GCTs to the nation on September 15. He also laid the foundation stone for the Linch GCT. On the occasion, India's first stainless steel salt container train was flagged off from Shivalakha to Mithapur. The newly constructed Gopalpur railway station was also inaugurated, eliminating the need for engine reversal at Gandhidham for trains operating between Ahmedabad and Bhuj. Train No. 22829 Bhuj-Shalimar Express was also provided a new scheduled halt at Anjar station.

Four killed as bus collides with trailer in UP's Ambedkar Nagar

Digital Desk | Ambedkar Nagar, Oct 2 (IANS) At least four passengers were killed and three others seriously injured after a bus collided head-on with a trailer on the Gorakhpur Link Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar district early Friday morning, police said. The accident took place at around 5:30 a.m. near kilometre 85 of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, under the jurisdiction of Jaitpur police station. The collision triggered panic in the area, following which local villagers rushed to the spot to assist the passengers and alerted the police. Police teams reached the site shortly afterwards and, with the help of local residents, carried out a rescue operation and evacuated the passengers trapped inside the bus. The injured were initially taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Nagpur for treatment. Additional Superintendent of Police Dr Tejveer Singh said police received information about the accident through UP-112 at around 5:30 a.m. Information was received through UP-112 that a Volvo bus and a truck had collided near kilometre 85 of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway under Jaitpur police station. The police immediately reached the spot and began rescue operations, Singh said. He said the injured passengers were taken to the CHC for medical treatment. During treatment, four passengers were declared dead, while three others were referred to Medical College Sadarpur for further treatment. According to the Additional Superintendent of Police, a preliminary investigation has indicated that the bus belonged to Tegra Express and was travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga in Bihar. Prima facie, police suspect that the accident may have occurred after the bus driver allegedly dozed off while driving, resulting in the collision with the trailer. Police have launched an investigation to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the accident. Efforts are also underway to ascertain the identities of the deceased and injured passengers. Further details are awaited. The accident comes weeks after another fatal bus incident in the region. In September, a bus caught fire in the Jewar police station area of Greater Noida, resulting in the deaths of nine people. Police and rescue teams managed to evacuate around 30 people from the vehicle. The bus was travelling from Delhi's Kashmere Gate to Mahoba when it caught fire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President had expressed grief over the incident and conveyed their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Bihar: Prashant Kishor welcomes Anant Singhs support for Jan Suraaj

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 1 (IANS) MLA Anant Singh has emerged as a key focus of Bihars political discourse after openly supporting Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh in the Patna Graduates Legislative Council election. The development has also triggered speculation about whether Singh could eventually move closer to Jan Suraaj. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, during his visit to Darbhanga on Thursday, welcomed Singhs support for the partys campaign. The entire society stands in support of Jan Suraaj for the betterment and transformation of Bihar. If Anant Singh also stands in support of this change, he is welcome, Kishor said. His remarks have added to speculation about Singhs political course, although he has not announced that the Mokama MLA intends to leave the JD(U) or formally join Jan Suraaj. Anant Singh, popularly known as Chhote Sarkar, has openly backed Anuj Singh, Jan Suraajs candidate from the Patna Graduates constituency, against JD(U) incumbent MLC Neeraj Kumar. On Thursday, Singh accompanied Anuj Singh during his nomination filing and joined a roadshow with his supporters. He has indicated that he will campaign for the Jan Suraaj candidate in the constituency. The development has brought Singhs long-running differences with Neeraj Kumar into sharper focus. Singh has previously maintained that his opposition to Neeraj Kumar is personal rather than a dispute with the JD(U) as a political organisation. The developments have also drawn the JD(U) leadership's attention. Reports said the matter had reached party president Nitish Kumar amid discussions over Singhs public support for a rival candidate. Singhs participation in Anuj Singhs nomination has added to questions about how the JD(U) will respond to an elected party MLA campaigning against its official candidate in the council election. Party leaders have previously attempted to address the differences between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar, but the rivalry has continued to surface publicly. Food and Consumer Protection Minister Ashok Choudhary, who has been associated with Anant Singh, said the party was looking into the issue. Choudhary said he had not attended the meeting and, therefore, could not comment in detail on what was discussed. The remarks came as the JD(U) leadership faced questions over Singhs decision to support Anuj Singh despite Neeraj Kumar being the partys official candidate for the Patna Graduates constituency.

Bihar Dalits block funeral procession, say path meant for temple

Patna: Dalits in Bihar allegedly blocked the funeral procession of a Muslim man, claiming the path was reserved for building a temple. The incident occurred in the Meknabeda village of Darbhanga district. Relatives and neighbours of the deceased Muslim resident were carrying his body toward the burial site when heavy rains made the mourners take 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 .

JD(U)'s Anant Singh backs Jan Suraaj candidate in Bihar MLC polls

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 1 (IANS) The contest for the Patna Graduates constituency in the Bihar Legislative Council has gained added attention after JD(U) MLA from Mokama, Anant Singh, openly backed Jan Suraaj candidate Dr Anuj Kumar Singh against his own partys nominee, incumbent MLC Neeraj Kumar. Anant Singh was present with Anuj Singh when the Jan Suraaj candidate filed his nomination on Thursday. He has also announced that he will campaign for Anuj Singh in the constituency. The development has brought the long-standing differences between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar into the spotlight and added an intra-party dimension to an already closely watched contest. The JD(U) has once again fielded Neeraj Kumar from the Patna Graduates constituency. Kumar is the partys chief spokesperson and a former minister, and is seeking a fourth consecutive term in the Legislative Council. Anant Singh, meanwhile, has made clear that his opposition is directed at Neeraj Kumar rather than the JD(U) as a whole. He has publicly pledged to campaign for Anuj Singh and work for Neeraj Kumars defeat. Both Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar are associated with the Mokama-Barh region, and differences between the two leaders have previously featured in Bihars political discourse. Their rivalry has now become part of the campaign surrounding the Patna Graduates election. Jan Suraaj has fielded Anuj Kumar Singh from the Patna Graduates seat, while the RJD has also entered the contest with its own candidate. The presence of candidates from the three political formations has made the constituency one of the closely watched contests in the council elections. Anant Singhs participation in Anuj Singhs nomination has further highlighted the political significance of the contest, particularly because Singh is an elected JD(U) MLA while Neeraj Kumar is the partys official candidate for the same seat. Elections are being held for eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council -- four Graduate constituencies and four Teachers constituencies. The Graduates constituencies are Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi, while the Teachers constituencies are Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran. Polling is scheduled for October 23, with counting and declaration of results scheduled for October 27. The nomination process began with the issuance of the election notification on September 29. Candidates can file nominations until October 6, scrutiny will take place on October 7, and the last date for withdrawal is October 9. The election process is scheduled to conclude by October 31.

BJP declares names of six candidates for Uttar Pradesh MLC elections

Digital Desk | Lucknow, Sep 29 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced its list of 10 candidates for the upcoming Legislative Council elections 2026 for two states Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The elections are scheduled in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for the Graduate and Teachers' constituencies on October 23. In Uttar Pradesh, a total of 11 seats, comprising Graduate and Teachers' constituencies, are set to go to the polls next month. BJP announced names of six candidates on Tuesday, covering the constituencies namely Varanasi, Jhansi, Meerut, Agra, and Gorakhpur regions. It has fielded nominees Kedar Nath Singh from Varanasi Graduate, Dinesh Goyal from Meerut Graduate, Ashok Kumar Rathore from Allahabad-Jhansi Graduate, Dr Pramod Mishra from Varanasi Teachers', Engineer Hari Kishore Tiwari from Agra Teachers', and Dhruv Tripathi from Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers' constituency. The MLC election in Uttar Pradesh is being held as a direct contest between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the BJP, with both taking to electioneering. Akhilesh Yadav-led SP has announced names of all 11 of its candidates for the MLC elections. The SP chief, declaring the list while speaking to the media in Lucknow on Monday, sought support for his party's candidates. Notably, the notification for the Legislative Council (MLC) elections in Uttar Pradesh was issued on Tuesday. The deadline for filing nominations is October 6, and the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on October 7. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until October 9; voting will take place on October 23. The results for Uttar Pradesh MLC elections will be announced on October 27. In Bihar, the MLC elections are slated for eight seatsfour Graduate constituencies and four Teachers' constituencies. They include Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi Graduates, and Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran Teachers. While announcing UP MLC candidates on Tuesday, BJP also released the names of its candidates for four Bihar Legislative Council seats for the upcoming biennial elections.

BJP announces candidates for October 23 Bihar MLC elections

Digital Desk | Patna, Sep 29 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its candidates for the four Bihar Legislative Council seats allocated to the party for the upcoming biennial elections. The BJP has renominated sitting MLC Naval Kishore Yadav from the Patna Teachers' constituency and Dr N.K. Yadav from the Kosi Graduates' constituency. The party has fielded sitting MLC Sarvesh Kumar from the Darbhanga Graduates' constituency and Narendra Prasad Singh from the Tirhut Teachers' constituency. The candidate list was finalised by the BJP's Central Election Committee. Naval Kishore Yadav, who represents the Patna Teachers' constituency, has been given another opportunity to contest from the seat. Similarly, Dr N.K. Yadav has been renominated from the Kosi Graduates' constituency, where he is the sitting MLC. Sarvesh Kumar, the sitting Independent MLC from the Darbhanga Graduates' constituency, has now been fielded by the BJP. Narendra Prasad Singh has been nominated from the Tirhut Teachers' constituency. Singh has previously represented the constituency in the Legislative Council. The elections will be held for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats -- four Graduate constituencies and four Teachers' constituencies. The constituencies are Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi Graduates, and Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran Teachers. BJP constituent partner Janata Dal(United) has announced the name of sitting MLC Neeraj Kumar to contest from Patna's Graduate seat. He is facing tough resistance from his own party MLA and Bahubali leader Anant Kumar Singh. Singh has supported the Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Kumar Singh and stated that he has a personal rivalry with Neeraj Kumar. According to the Election Commission's schedule, polling will take place on October 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while counting of votes will be held on October 27. The notification process begins on September 29, with October 6 as the last date for filing nominations. The entire election process is scheduled to be completed by October 31. With the BJP's candidates now announced for its four seats, the contest in the concerned constituencies has moved into the nomination and campaign phase.

Jan Suraj Party Changes Candidate for Darbhanga Graduate Seat in Bihar Elections

The Jan Suraj Party has replaced its candidate for the Darbhanga graduate seat, announcing Dr. Mohammad Imtiaz Noorani as the new nominee. Jan Suraj Party Changes Candidate for Darbhanga Graduate Seat in Bihar Elections

Misa Bharti seeks FIR against Bihar CM over Jamui row

Digital Desk | Patna, Sep 25 (IANS) RJD Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti on Friday reached the Secretariat Police Station in Patna seeking registration of an FIR against Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary over his social media post featuring the family of a minor girl involved in the Jamui molestation case. Bharti submitted a written complaint at the police station and waited for some time, but alleged that the police refused to accept her complaint or register an FIR. She subsequently left the police station without the case being registered. Speaking after visiting the Secretariat Police Station, Bharti said she had approached the police to lodge an FIR against the Chief Minister and questioned how ordinary citizens are treated when seeking to register complaints. We have not come to the Secretariat police station to play caste politics. We are elected representatives of the people, Members of Parliament. If my FIR is not being registered, one can only imagine the plight of ordinary citizens of Bihar at police stations, she said. She also pointed out that Choudhary holds the portfolios of both Chief Minister and Home Minister. Referring to the Jamui case, she claimed that FIRs had been registered against more than 250 people, including news-channel personnel, YouTubers and ordinary citizens, over the circulation of related material. Bharti alleged that the Chief Ministers interaction with the victims family and the subsequent publication of the photograph raised questions under the POCSO Act. The Chief Minister of Bihar was holding a photo session after summoning the victimised girl and her family members. On one hand, cases are being registered against news channels for violating the POCSO Act. Yet, he himself shared a photo on X that violates the same Act, only to delete the post after realising the error twenty minutes later. Does this constitute a violation of the POCSO Act or not? she asked. The controversy centres on the Jamui case, in which police have arrested those accused of the alleged molestation of a minor girl. The issue took a political turn after Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary shared a photograph on social media with the victims family during his interaction with them on Thursday. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav subsequently alleged that the photograph violated provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The post was later deleted. Tejashwi also questioned why police had not registered an FIR against the Chief Minister, arguing that they had taken action against other individuals accused of sharing photographs or videos related to the case on social media. He said the law should apply equally to everyone and warned that he would approach the court if the police did not register a case against Choudhary. Bharti also referred to a series of recent incidents involving girls and women reported from different parts of Bihar, including Jamui, Samastipur, Banka, Madhepura and Darbhanga. She alleged that the incidents reflected concerns over womens safety in the state. The controversy now centres on whether the police will formally take up Bharti's complaint and whether any legal proceedings will follow over the photograph shared by the Chief Minister. Any allegation of a POCSO violation would ultimately have to be examined under applicable law, based on the facts and evidence available to the authorities.

Bihar: After Jamui, girl molested in public in Darbhanga, 2 held

Darbhanga: A girl was allegedly molested in public in Bihars Darbhanga district, following which two accused, including a minor, were apprehended in connection with the incident that bears a stark resemblance to the Jamui episode. The latest incident took place in Keeratpur village of Darbhanga on Monday when two motorcycle-borne persons tried to snatch the 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 .

Darbhanga Molestation: Accused Held, Political Blame Game

A girl was allegedly molested in public in Darbhanga, Bihar, by two motorcycle-borne individuals. Police apprehended both accused, including a minor, within five hours. The incident has drawn political comparisons to a similar case in Jamui, leading to a blame game between the RJD and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

Jan Suraaj seeks correction of discrepancies in Bihar MLC voter list; meets CEO

Digital Desk | Patna, Sep 11 (IANS) A high-level delegation led by State Jan Suraaj Party President Manoj Bharti met the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod Singh Gunjiyal on Friday and submitted a memorandum seeking correction of discrepancies in the voter lists for the upcoming Legislative Council elections. Bharti said the delegation had raised concerns over irregularities in the voter list at a press conference on Wednesday. He added that the Jan Suraaj Party had identified 1,668 duplicate entries in the Tirhut constituency, where the same names appeared more than once, and had shared the list of duplicate entries with the media. The party delegation formally submitted the memorandum to the Election Commission of India on Friday. According to Bharti, election officials acknowledged the reported discrepancies and said corrective measures were already underway. Officials also told the delegation that the process of adding, deleting or correcting names in the voter lists would continue until the elections are formally announced. The final election would be conducted on the basis of the voter list published after the correction process, Bharti said. The terms of eight Bihar Legislative Council members elected from Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies are due to expire in the coming months, making the upcoming elections significant for all major political parties. Among the four Teachers' Constituency seats, Naval Kishore Yadav of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) represents Patna, Madan Mohan Jha of the Congress represents Darbhanga, Afaque Ahmad, an Independent represents Saran, and Sanjay Kumar Singh of the CPI represents Tirhut. In the four Graduates' Constituencies, Neeraj Kumar of the JD-U represents Patna, Sarvesh Kumar, an Independent represents Darbhanga, NK Yadav of the BJP represents Kosi, and Banshidhar Brajvasi, an Independent represents Tirhut. The current composition of the eight seats includes three Independents, two BJP members and one each from the JD-U, Congress and CPI. The upcoming elections will therefore be important for political parties seeking to retain their existing strongholds while also attempting to win seats currently held by Independent candidates. Among the Teachers' Constituencies, Patna has the largest voter base with 16,689 registered voters, followed by Saran with 10,800, Tirhut with 9,204 and Darbhanga with 8,967 voters. The Graduates' Constituencies have substantially larger electorates. Tirhut has around 1.35 lakh voters, followed by Kosi with around 1.34 lakh, Darbhanga with nearly 1.27 lakh and Patna with about 88,000 voters. With only a few months remaining before the terms of the sitting MLCs expire, political activity among prospective candidates is expected to intensify. Once the election schedule is announced, competition among political parties to secure the support of teachers and graduates is likely to become more intense.

RJD announces candidates for six seats ahead of Bihar MLC polls

Digital Desk | Patna, Sep 11 (IANS) The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has intensified preparations for the upcoming elections to eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council, announcing candidates for six constituencies while discussions over the remaining two are still underway. The elections will be held for four Teachers' Constituency and four Graduates' Constituency seats. The terms of the sitting MLCs are scheduled to expire on November 16, 2026, with the election process expected to be announced in September. Unlike Assembly elections, the Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies have a specialised electorate. While political parties are preparing their candidates, a number of Independent candidates are also expected to enter the contest. According to a list issued by the office of RJD state president Mangnilal Mandal, the party has named Dr Sanjiv Kumar Singh as its candidate for the Patna Teachers' Constituency and Dilip Kumar for the Patna Graduates' Constituency. The party has also fielded Nitesh Kumar from the Kosi Graduates' Constituency, Anil Kumar Jha from the Darbhanga Graduates' Constituency, Prof. Jayram Yadav from the Saran Teachers' Constituency and Dr Rashmi Vinayak Gautam from the Tirhut Graduates' Constituency. The RJD said discussions are continuing over the selection of candidates for the two remaining seats. Their names will be announced after the party finalises the candidates. With the tenure of the sitting MLCs approaching its end, political parties have stepped up preparations across the eight constituencies. The RJD has already outlined its strategy for several key seats, particularly in the Patna Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies. Among the four Teachers' Constituency seats, Prof. Naval Kishore Yadav of the BJP represents Patna, Dr Madan Mohan Jha of the Congress represents Darbhanga, Afaque Ahmad, an Independent, represents Saran, and Sanjay Kumar Singh of the CPI represents Tirhut. In the four Graduates' Constituencies, Neeraj Kumar of the JD(U) represents Patna, Sarvesh Kumar, an Independent, represents Darbhanga, NK Yadav of the BJP represents Kosi, and Banshidhar Brajvasi, an Independent, represents Tirhut, and their tenure will be completed in November this year. The specialised nature of the electorate is expected to make the contests different from conventional Assembly elections. Among the Teachers' Constituencies, Patna has the largest voter base with 16,689 registered voters, followed by Saran with 10,800, Tirhut with 9,204 and Darbhanga with 8,967 voters. The Graduates' Constituencies have substantially larger electorates. Tirhut has approximately 1.35 lakh voters, followed by Kosi with around 1.34 lakh, Darbhanga with nearly 1.27 lakh and Patna with about 88,000 voters. Alongside established political parties, Independent candidates are also preparing to campaign among teachers and graduates in their respective constituencies.

Bihar weather: Yellow Alert in 13 districts as floods affect 6.65 lakh people

Patna, Sep 7 (IANS) The monsoon remains active across Bihar, with the Meteorological Department issuing a Yellow Alert for rain in 13 districts on Monday. The alert covers West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Vaishali, Samastipur and Supaul. Heavy rainfall has been forecast in four districtsSupaul, Samastipur, Sitamarhi and Darbhanga. Strong winds reaching speeds of up to 30 kmph are also expected in some areas, along with the possibility of lightning. The Meteorological Centre has advised residents to remain cautious during adverse weather. Several parts of Bihar received significant rainfall over the past 24 hours. Munger recorded 73 mm, followed by Patna with 68 mm, Banka with 67 mm, Muzaffarpur with 65 mm, and Jamui and Siwan with 55 mm each. Despite the recent rainfall, Bihar has recorded a 35 per cent deficit in cumulative rainfall so far this season. Against the expected 820.9 mm, the state has received 531.3 mm. Patna received 68 mm of rainfall on Sunday. The capital is expected to remain cloudy on Monday, although the possibility of continuous heavy rainfall is low. Light drizzle may occur in some areas. Humidity and temperatures may rise once the rain subsides, while no significant change in temperature is expected over the coming week. While rainfall continues in parts of the state, rising river levels have compounded the situation. Heavy rainfall in Nepal and Uttarakhand has contributed to increased water levels in several rivers, with floodwaters now affecting 18 districts and approximately 6.65 lakh people. The Ganga is flowing above the danger mark from Buxar to Bhagalpur. The Punpun has risen 2.75 metres above the danger mark, with floodwaters reportedly overtopping or breaching protective embankments in the southern parts of Patna and entering residential areas. Flooding has also disrupted transportation at several locations, with water affecting the Patna-Gaya railway section, Bihta Sarmera NH 78, and the Mokama National Highway. The Son River has also caused flooding in riverside villages in the Bihta block, affecting around 20,000 people and submerging several roads. According to the Meteorological Department, rainfall across Bihar is expected to remain uneven over the next few days, with localised cloud activity and light rain likely in different areas.

City of ponds: residents of Bihars Darbhanga town wade into legal battle to save water bodies

Members of a citizen group have petitioned the Supreme Court seeking restoration and reclamation instead of beautification of the ponds

Bigg Boss fame Lopamudra Raut's Mumbai home robbed of Rs 76 lakh, accused arrested in Bihar

A man accused of stealing valuables worth around Rs 76.39 lakh from actor and former Bigg Boss contestant Lopamudra Raut's Mumbai home has been arrested in Bihar. Police caught the accused in Darbhanga and recovered stolen property worth more than Rs 51 lakh from his possession.

Why apex court's wading into Darbhanga's ponds

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case concerning alleged encroachment of three historic water bodies. Petitioners accuse the Bihar government of threatening these lakes through a beautification project. Locals argue the government's plan constitutes encroachment disguised as development. The case highlights a broader decline in Bihar's water bodies over decades. Experts emphasize the need for ecosystem preservation and community involvement.