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 Suraaj replaces Darbhanga Graduates constituency MLC candidate
Technical Snag Forces Bengaluru-Darbhanga Akasa Air Flight Mid-Air U-Turn
Minor girl alleges sexual assault in Bihar's Darbhanga district, two arrested
Two youths have been arrested in Bihars Darbhanga after a minor girl alleged she was sexually assaulted after accepting a motorcycle ride from an examination centre. Police seized the motorcycle and are investigating the allegations, sequence of events and roles of those arrested
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.
Bihar Police have lodged several FIRs against more than 600 unidentified protesters for vandalising public property; more than 40 students detained in Patna alone
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.
Violence Erupts in Darbhanga: Police Officer Shot, Suspect Lynched by Mob
Patna, June 26: A violent incident in Ojhaul village, Darbhanga district, has left a police officer critically injured and a suspected criminal dead at the hands of a mob. The injured officer has been identified as Mohammad Mobin, who was stationed at Patna Civil Court and had returned to his village just two days prior. ... Read more Violence Erupts in Darbhanga: Police Officer Shot, Suspect Lynched by Mob
New Train Service Connects Jaipur and Darbhanga, Boosting Regional Development
Jaipur, June 21: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma inaugurated the Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express from the Khati Pura railway station in Jaipur on Sunday. This new train service will enhance rail connectivity between Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, fostering regional development. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed gratitude to Prime ... Read more New Train Service Connects Jaipur and Darbhanga, Boosting Regional Development
Ex-employee kills manager with iron rod, scissors in Bihar
The manager of a Yamaha showroom in Bihars Darbhanga district was brutally attacked by a former employee with an iron rod and scissors, allegedly over past grudges. The incident occurred within the limits of the Ashok Paper Mill Police Station on Friday, June 12. A video of the incident shows the attacker storming in with 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 .
Manager of Yamaha Showroom Murdered in Darbhanga; Suspect Arrested
Darbhanga, June 14: In a shocking incident in Darbhanga, Bihar, the manager of a Yamaha motorcycle showroom was brutally murdered with an iron rod. The police arrested a suspect on Saturday in connection with the case. According to police officials, Faiz Ahmed, the manager of the Yamaha motorcycle agency near Chandanpatti Chowk, was attacked by ... Read more Manager of Yamaha Showroom Murdered in Darbhanga; Suspect Arrested
Tragic Boat Capsize in Bihar Leaves Three Missing, Including a Teenager
Patna, June 10: A tragic incident occurred in Darbhanga district of Bihar on Wednesday morning when a boat carrying farmers capsized in the Kosi River, leaving three women missing. The group was en route to harvest mung bean crops from their fields. Officials reported that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has launched an extensive ... Read more Tragic Boat Capsize in Bihar Leaves Three Missing, Including a Teenager
