3-day CREDAI expo in Visakhapatnam from December 19
Saving and investing in real estate ensures both appreciation and social security, CREDAI Visakhapatnam chairman said
NDA urges Election Commission to hold Bihar assembly polls in single phase
Patna: The BJP-JD(U)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has suggested to the Election Commission of India (ECI) that the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar be conducted in a single phase. Several other parties have also advocated that the polls should not be stretched beyond two phases. After attending a meeting convened by the ECI, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Patna, JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha said, Our party has suggested that the assembly elections should be held in single phase. Kushwaha added that his party has urged the ECI to announce the election schedule soon after the Chhath festival so that voters coming from outside the state could cast their votes. A number of voters come to the state during Chhath festival, he said. BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal said that his party has recommended holding the election in one or two phases. Our party has suggested that the officials must identify women turning up at polling booths in burqa, he added. The BJP also demanded that the ECI direct central para-armed police forces to conduct flag marches in villages inhabited by Dalits, Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to instil a sense of confidence among voters. In addition, the BJP demanded patrolling in Diara land (riverine belt) by Mounted Military Police (MMP) personnel to prevent the possibility of booth capturing. These demands were placed during a meeting between a BJP delegation, led by Jaiswal, and the visiting ECI team. Former union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras-led Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) also advocated a single-phase election. RLJP leader Pramod Kumar told the media that though his party has suggested a single phase, the process could be extended to not more than two phases. The RLJP further raised concerns over the states law and order situation. As the law and order is a big issue, the law enforcing agencies must be asked to tighten the noose around troublemakers before the election, an RLJP leader said. Union minister Chirag Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) also suggested that the elections be held in no more than two phases. Similarly, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) demanded that announcements to woo the electorate during the election must be stopped. BSP leader Suresh Rao said that his party has also suggested relaxation in the publication of criminal records of candidates facing charges in newspapers. It becomes expensive for the poor candidates to publish criminal records in three different newspapers, he added. Earlier, a three-member ECI team headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar arrived in the state capital to review preparedness for the assembly elections. The visiting team held meetings with different political parties and gathered feedback from their representatives. The ECI team included Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, along with Bihars Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Gunjiyal. They met representatives of all recognised national and state political parties, including BJP, JD(U), RJD, Congress and others, to discuss election-related issues and gather feedback.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled youth-centric initiatives exceeding Rs 62,000 crore, significantly impacting poll-bound Bihar. Key launches include the Rs 60,000 crore PM-SETU scheme to modernize ITIs, new vocational labs, and enhanced financial aid for students. Modi also inaugurated a skill university and dedicated NIT Patna's Bihta campus, underscoring a commitment to youth empowerment and skill development.
Bus Conductor Dies of Heart Attack on Duty in Vizianagaram
Conductor collapses while on Visakhapatnam-bound bus, succumbs during treatment
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Bihar cabinet approves honorarium hike for ANMs, doubles scholarship, clears key projects
PATNA: In a significant pre-election move, the Bihar government has approved a series of welfare and infrastructure development proposals, including an increase in the monthly honorarium for contractual Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) workers in urban areas from Rs 11,500 to Rs 15,000. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday, which saw approval of 129 proposals in total. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Cabinet Department, Arvind Kumar Choudhary, said the revised honorarium would include a 5% annual increment, aimed at strengthening the states vaccination efforts. In another key decision, the cabinet doubled the annual scholarship for Class 9 and 10 students belonging to the general category (including minorities) under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship scheme. The scholarship amount has been increased from Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,600 per student, resulting in an estimated additional annual expenditure of Rs 99.21 crore. The cabinet also gave its nod to the establishment of the Bihar Film and Theatre Institute, designed to address the lack of institutional training in film and theatre arts in the state. To boost tourism infrastructure, approval was granted for the construction of a five-star hotel on 3.24 acres of land at the Bankipore bus stand in Patna. The project will be undertaken by a Kolkata-based private firm, which has been issued a Letter of Award. Additionally, an Ahmedabad-based firm has been appointed chief consultant for the integrated development of the Vishnupad Temple area in Gaya, modelled on Varanasis Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. For womens safety and rehabilitation, the cabinet approved the conversion of short-stay homes under the Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana into Shakti Sadan centres. These centres will offer comprehensive shelter and support to women in distress, including survivors of human trafficking. In a move to simplify processes for pensioners, the government has selected CSC E-Governance Services India Ltd, a special purpose vehicle, to handle annual life certification. Pensioners can now complete the process free of cost at nearby CSC kiosks. Earlier on Friday, the state government also announced a 3% hike in dearness allowance for employees and pensioners, raising it from 55% to 58%, effective ahead of Diwali and Chhath festivals.
YSRCP creating hurdles for IT investments in Visakhapatnam, alleges Palla
The YSRCP leaders have moved courts under the guise of farmers to safeguard lands acquired in benami names, alleges the TDP State president
Bihar polls: Election Commission to meet political parties on Saturday
New Delhi: In a key step towards ensuring smooth conduct of the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a crucial meeting with representatives of various political parties in Patna on Saturday. The session, aimed at reviewing election preparedness and gathering feedback from stakeholders, will take place from 10:00 A.M. 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 .
Focus on Bihar as Modi set to unveil Rs 62K cr schemes
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the announcement of Bihar Legislative Assembly election dates by the Election Commission on Monday or Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch several youth-focused initiatives, including schemes specifically for Bihar, worth Rs 62,000 crore, on Saturday. He will inaugurate the revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana in Bihar, which will provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for two years to nearly five lakh graduate youths. In a landmark step for skill development, Modi will also inaugurate the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University, aimed at promoting industry-oriented courses and vocational education. On the educational infrastructure front, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for new academic and research facilities in four universitiesPatna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University in Madhepura, Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya in Chapra, and Nalanda Open University in Patnaunder the PM-USHA scheme. These projects, with a total allocation of Rs 160 crore, are expected to benefit over 27,000 students by providing modern academic infrastructure, advanced laboratories, hostels, and multidisciplinary learning facilities. PM Modi will also dedicate the Bihta campus of NIT Patna to the nation. The campus now has the capacity to accommodate 6,500 students and includes a Regional Academic Centre for Space, established in collaboration with ISRO, as well as an Innovation and Incubation Centre, which has already supported nine start-ups. In addition, the Prime Minister will felicitate 46 all-India toppers from Industrial Training Institutes under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship during the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, the fourth edition of the National Skill Convocation. He will also launch PM-SETU, a Rs 60,000 crore initiative to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs nationwide, with special focus on it is in Patna and Darbhanga under PM-SETU. Other initiatives include the inauguration of 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs in 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, the redesigned Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme offering interest-free loans up to `4 lakh, and the formal launch of the Bihar Yuva Ayog, a commission for youth aged 18-45. 4K govt job letters to be distributed in manpower push Over 4,000 government appointment letters will be distributed, and `450 crore in scholarships will be released to 25 lakh students under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme. With these initiatives, the BJP expects Bihar to become a hub for skilled manpower, supporting both regional and national development.
BENGALURU: Veteran journalist, writer and columnist, who was Director of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited and Editorial Advisor to The New Indian Express, Thayil Jacob Sony Georgepopularly known as TJS George or TJSpassed away on Friday afternoon at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was 97. He is survived by his son Jeet Thayil and daughter Sheba Thayil. His wife Ammu George died in January this year. Family members informed that TJS was ailing from age-related problems for some time, with his condition deteriorating over the last two months. He was admitted to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru last week, and had undergone a minor surgery from which he was recovering. However, complications set in on Thursday and Friday, when he suffered two cardiac arrests, respectively, the second from which he did not recover. TJS passed away at 4.30 pm on Friday. TJS, that legend down the corridor TJS was born on May 7, 1928, as the fourth child of Thayil Thomas Jacob, a magistrate, and Chachiamma Jacob, and went on to graduate from the Madras Christian College with an Honours in English Literature before embarking on his journalistic career. TJS began his career in 1950 at The Free Press Journal in Indias Maximum City, then known as Bombay, now Mumbai. He went on to work with The Searchlight, the International Press Institute and the Far Eastern Economic Review before becoming the founding editor of Asiaweek, published from Hong Kong. At Searchlight, TJS became the first Indian editor to be charged with sedition in India. When he was arrested for his columns against then Bihar Chief Minister KB Sahay, the defence minister at that time, VK Krishna Menon, rushed to Patna to defend him. During his long stint with The New Indian Express that spanned over four decades, TJS contributed 1,300 columns in the last 25 years before laying down his pen on June 12, 2022 with Now is the time to say Goodbye. His column Point of View ran for over 25 years and was widely read. TJS never took a backward step during the rest of his career too, never flinching from speaking truth to power. In his final column, TJS explained how he saw it: Some of us feel that we should not criticise our own country. Some feel exactly the other waythat a big country like ours needs to be cautioned all the way about pitfalls. All arguments have their own supporters and their own critics, their own validities and their own drawbacks. But there is something not right if a country and its rulers start feeling that they should not be criticised at alland especially by newspaperwallahs. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his significant contributions to literature and education, and was given the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2007. Some of the famous books that TJS wrote include: Lee Kuan Yews Singapore (1973), Revolt in Mindanao : the rise of Islam in Philippine Politics (1980), Pothan Josephs India (1992), The Life and Times of Nargis (1994), The First Refuge of Scoundrels (2003), MS, A life In Music (2004), Lessons In Journalism: The Story of Pothan Joseph (2007), M.S. Subbulakshmi: The Definitive Biography (2016), Askew: A Short Biography of Bangalore (2016), Jaya: An Incredible Story (2018), and The Dismantling of India: In 35 Portraits (2022). TJS last rites will be performed in Bengaluru, where he will be cremated at the Hebbal crematorium on Sunday afternoon.
Floods: AP CM Offers Ex-gratia Of Rs4 Lakh Each To Families Of Deceased
The heavy downpour and related incidents claimed four lives across districts. One death was recorded at Kancharapalem in Visakhapatnam, two in Mandaasa of Srikakulam and one at Kurupam in Parvathipuram Manyam district.
Bihar cabinet clears five-star hotel project to boost tourism
Across India, only two high courts fully staffed; Allahabad tops with 76 vacancies
NEW DELHI: High Courts across India are grappling with 330 vacant judge positions out of a total sanctioned strength of 1,122, causing mounting delays and affecting millions of litigants, according to the Department of Justice data as of September 1, 2025. The Allahabad High Court has the highest number of vacancies at 76, including 35 permanent and 41 additional judges. Other major High Courts with significant gaps include Bombay (26), Punjab and Haryana (25), Calcutta (24), Madras (19), Patna (18), Delhi (16), and Rajasthan (7). Uttarakhand has two vacancies, Tripura has one. Out of 25 states, only the High Courts of Sikkim and Meghalaya are functioning at their full sanctioned strength. Data from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) shows over 67 lakh pending cases across High Courts and more than 60,000 in the Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court operates at full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India, High Courts struggle with excessive workloads. Experts attribute the shortage to delays in the appointment process at both the Collegium and government levels, with repeated recommendations sometimes facing executive resistance or remaining unaddressed for months. Former High Court judges and legal experts say that the high vacancy rates in High Courts are a major obstacle to the justice system, causing delays and contributing to growing case backlogs. Retired Patna High Court Judge and legal expert, Justice Anajana Prakash, talking to the TNIE , said that the pendency of filling up judges' posts in HCs added to the woes of the disposal of cases, and as a result, ultimately, litigants suffer for this. The filling up of judges' posts in HCs should be addressed expeditiously. Until and unless the judiciary and the centre decide and deliberate upon this issue, the case disposal rate won't increase, which will ultimately affect the litigants at the state level, she said. Former Allahabad High Court Judge Justice S.R. Singh told the TNIE that judge vacancies in High Courts are a major concern, causing hardship for litigants. Vacancies of judges lead to an unnecessary workload for existing judges, which can compromise the quality of judgments and cause burnout. So a judicious choice must be there to appoint judges keeping in view the pendency across HCs, he said. The vacancies include 161 permanent posts and 169 additional (temporary) posts, the latter appointed by the President for a maximum of two years to address temporary workload spikes.
Visakhapatnam gears up for ICC Womens World Cup matches
District administration reviews arrangements on power, security, ticketing and spectator facilities; city to host five fixtures including two India games
Pradhan to camp in Bihar, Amit Shah plans extended stays
BJP intensifies its Bihar election campaign. Dharmendra Pradhan will camp in Patna for meetings. Seat sharing talks are underway with allies. Chirag Paswan seeks 30 assembly seats. BJP and JDU aim to finalize seat allocation by October 10. Amit Shah closely monitors the state's political developments. The party targets non-Yadav OBC and EBC vote banks.
8-day terracotta sculpture workshop concludes in Visakhapatnam
PM Modi to dedicate to nation Bihta campus of NIT-Patna on October 4
BJP Ramps Up Bihar Poll Preparations, Seat-Sharing Talks With Allies On The Cards
A two-day meeting of BJP's state election committee will be held in Patna on October 4 and 5
Legendary journalist and author TJS George passes away at 97
Thayil Jacob Sony George, the famed journalist known simply as TJS, passed away at the age of 97 in Bengaluru on Friday. TJS began his career in 1950 at The Free Press Journal in India's Maximum City known then as Bombay. He went on to work with The Searchlight , the International Press Institute and the Far Eastern Economic Review before becoming the founding editor of Asiaweek , published from Hong Kong. At Searchlight , TJS became the first Indian editor to be charged with sedition in India. When he was arrested for his columns against then Bihar Chief Minister KB Sahay, the former Defence Minister of India, VK Krishna Menon, rushed down to Patna to defend him. TJS did not take a backward step during the rest of his career too, never flinching from speaking truth to power. As Asiaweek founding editor, he drew the ire of many of Southeast Asia's rulers with the trenchant articles that were published in his magazine. In his final column, TJS explained how he saw it. Some of us feel that we should not criticise our own country. Some feel exactly the other way that a big country like ours needs to be cautioned all the way about pitfalls. All arguments have their own supporters and their own critics, their own validities and their own drawbacks. But there is something not right if a country and its rulers start feeling that they should not be criticised at all and especially by newspaperwallahs, he wrote. That indomitable courage of his will remain his most enduring legacy. It was backed by an ability to say what he had to with an Ernest Hemingwayesque simplicity that got the message across elegantly and in the sharpest manner possible. During his long association with The New Indian Express , TJS famously contributed 1300 columns for 25 years before laying down his pen on June 12, 2022 with Now is the time to say Goodbye . A Padma Bhushan awardee, TJS was was born on May 7, 1928, as the fourth child of Thayil Thomas Jacob, a magistrate, and his wife Chachiamma Jacob. He went on to graduate from the Madras Christian College with an honours in English Literature before embarking on his journalistic career. Besides his journalism, he also authored many well-received books including Krishna Menon , The Life and Times of Nargis , Lessons in Journalism The Story of Pothan Joseph , MS: A Life in Music , Askew: A Short Biography of Bangalore and The Dismantling Of India. Ghoshayatra , Ottayan and Malayilude Swathu: Basheer Muthal Mohanlal Vare are his Malayalam books. His was also the vision that brought to life the esteemed Asian College of Journalism, which began life in The New Indian Express ' Bengaluru buildings with the goal of giving India well-trained journalists and continues to thrive in Chennai. As his late famous contemporary and friend BRP Bhaskar once observed few mediapersons experienced the romance of journalism in as great a measure as TJS. Rest in Peace, Sir! Legendary journalist and author TJS George passes away at 97
Election Commissioners To Visit Patna To Review Poll Preparedness
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and S S Sandhu will visit Patna for two days beginning Saturday to review poll preparedness in Bihar, officials said.
JD(U) MLA resigns from party, joins RJD ahead of Bihar assembly polls
PATNA: Sitting JD(U) MLA Sanjeev Kumar resigned from the party on Friday and joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), ahead of the Bihar assembly elections scheduled for November. Sanjeev Kumar joined RJD in the presence of former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, state president Mangani Lal Mandal, and other senior party leaders at the RJD office. Tejashwi said that Sanjeev Kumars joining would strengthen the partys poll prospects in Khagaria district. Sanjeev Kumars resignation from JD(U) gives the RJD-led Grand Alliance an advantage in the Parbatta assembly constituency of Khagaria district, as he is a prominent leader of the dominant Upper-caste Bhumihar community. His joining is expected to change the caste dynamics in the region. Rumours had been circulating for some time that Sanjeev Kumar would switch sides ahead of the elections to ensure his re-election to the state assembly. His absence was evident during CM Nitish Kumars recent visit to Satisnagar to pay tributes to former chief minister Satish Prasad. Sanjeev Kumar was also critical of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had criticised both the Election Commission and the NDA government for doing the exercise a few months before the election. He had also criticised JD(U)s policy on several occasions. Sanjeev Kumars name had surfaced in the horse-trading controversy during the NDA governments floor test in February 2024. He was also served a notice by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar police in connection with the case. Following the sitting MLAs resignation, the ruling NDA will have to find a new candidate for the seat. Speculation suggests that the BJP may field a contender in Parbatta to counter the likely Upper-caste candidate. JD(U), however, maintained that Sanjeev Kumars exit will not affect the partys prospects in the upcoming assembly elections. This is a common trend during elections. Politicians switch sides in the hope of securing tickets from other party, a JD(U) leader said.
CEC, Election Commissioners To Visit Patna on October 4
The term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22 and polls in the state are likely to be held in multiple phases beginning at the end of this month and in November
CEC, ECs to visit Bihar, review poll preparedness on October 4-5
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and S S Sandhu will visit Patna. They will review poll preparedness in Bihar on October 4 and 5. The Bihar Assembly term concludes on November 22. Elections are likely to begin later this month. The EC will meet political parties and state officials.
NEET Aspirant From Delhi Found Hanging In Kota PG Room, Family Alleges Foul Play
The student, identified as Lucky Choudhary, was originally from Patna, Bihar, and had been living in Kota for the past two years
114 Odisha police job aspirants arrested while travelling to collect question paper in advance
Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said these repeated disruptions highlighted a troubling pattern in Odishas recruitment system, undermining trust and affecting lakhs of job seekers across the State
Kota: NEET aspirant found hanging in PG room; family alleges foul play
KOTA: A 20-year-old NEET aspirant from Delhi was found hanging in his PG room here, police said on Thursday. Lucky Choudhary, a native of Patna in Bihar, was found hanging on Wednesday from a ceiling fan in his PG located in Sector-2 under the Vigyan Nagar Police Station limits. Police said he was preparing for NEET online and had been living in Kota for the past two years. Circle Inspector Mukesh Meena said the room was bolted from the inside at two places. We have found no sign of foul play at this stage, he said. Meanwhile, another student from Bihar, living in an adjoining room in the same PG, was reported to have gone missing. Lucky's maternal uncle (Mama), Koshal Kumar Choudhary, said Lucky was not the kind of person who would commit suicide. Speaking to PTI outside the mortuary, he alleged foul play and suspected the involvement of a youth named Rahul, also hailing from Patna, who is now missing. No suicide note was recovered from the room, and his mobile phone and wallet were also missing, he said. Lucky's father also expressed doubts over the nature of his son's death, alleging that Rahul was not a student and often visited his son's room with his girlfriend. He said Lucky had told his sister that he had borrowed Rs 40,000 and was under pressure from the lender to repay it. His father said he had paid his son Rs 10,000 online and was going to pay the rest ASI Lal Singh said the body was handed over to Lucky's family members on Thursday after the post-mortem. Police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), he said. If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Tele MANAS counsellors at:14416 (OR) 1800-89-14416
Vivek Gupta elected President of Indian Newspaper Society
Vivek Gupta of Sanmarg , a Hindi daily headquartered in Kolkata, has been elected President of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) for 202526. The INS is the apex body of publishers of newspapers, magazines, and periodicals in India. Gupta was elected at the 86th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the INS, held on Thursday through video conferencing and other audio-visual means. He succeeds M.V. Shreyams Kumar of Mathrubhumi . The AGM also confirmed other key appointments. Karan Rajendra Darda of Lokmat was elected Deputy President, Tanmay Maheshwari of Amar Ujala was named Vice-President, and Anant Nath of Grihshobhika was appointed Honorary Treasurer of the Society for 202526. Mary Paul is the Secretary-General of the Society. Having previously served as vice president and honorary treasurer of INS, Gupta became the first president from eastern India to helm the organisation in 32 years, a statement from INS said. In his presidential address, Kumar lauded the indomitable resilience of the Indian newspaper industry amid global adversities, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The members of the Executive Committee of the INS for the year 2025-26 are, S Balasubramanian Adityan (Daily Thanthi), Girish Agarwal (Dainik Bhaskar, Bhopal), Samahit Bal (Pragativadi), Samudra Bhattacharya (Hindustan Times, Patna), Hormusji N. Cama (Bombay Samachar), Gaurav Chopra (Filmi Duniya), Vijay Kumar Chopra (Punjab Kesari, Jalandhar), Vijay Jawaharlal Darda (Lokmat, Nagpur), Jagjit Singh Dardi (Charhdikala Daily), Pallavi S. Dempo (The Navhind Times), Viveck Goenka (The Indian Express, Mumbai), Mahendra Mohan Gupta (Dainik Jagran), Yogesh P. Jadhav (Pudhari), Pratap G. Pawar (Sakal), Sowbhagyalakshmi Kanekal Tilak (Mayura), and Mohit Jain (Economic Times).
Bihar SIR: Highest additions in Magadh, most deletions in Seemanchal
PATNA: Bihars Magadh division saw the highest number of new voters added, while the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region reported the highest number of deletions in the final voter list released by the Election Commission on Tuesday. The list was published after a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of the coming election. The final list now has 7.42 crore voters. Nearly 42 lakh names were removed, and 21.53 lakh new voters were added. Earlier in August, the draft roll had shown 7.89 crore voters. Nearly 65 lakh names were deleted during the revision, which opposition parties criticised as a hurried exercise in a poll-bound state. Seemanchal, which includes Kishanganj, Katihar, Araria, and Purnea, reported the highest 7.7 percent deletions. Kishanganj alone saw 9.69 percent of names removed, followed by Purnea at 8.41 percent, Katihar at 7.12 percent, and Araria at 5.6 percent. The states average voter deletion rate is 5.9 percent. Additions in Seemanchal stood at 2.4 percent, almost equal to Bihars overall rate of 2.3 percent. In the 2020 Assembly polls, the RJD-Congress-led Grand Alliance won 7 of Seemanchals 24 seats, the NDA won 12, and AIMIM bagged 5, though four AIMIM MLAs later joined the RJD. Gopalganj district recorded the highest deletions in the state at 12.13 percent. It is the home district of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. In 2020, the NDA won four of its six seats, while the Grand Alliance took two. The Magadh division, on the other hand, saw the highest addition of voters, at 2.6 percent, across its seven districts. Patna topped the list within Magadh, with a 3.4 percent rise, adding 1.6 lakh new voters. In 2020, the Grand Alliance had dominated Magadh, winning 30 of 47 seats, while the NDA managed only 17. The NDA had also performed poorly in the Shahabad region, which includes Bhojpur, Kaimur, Buxar, and Rohtas. The BJP has now shifted its focus to Magadh to improve its performance in the 2025 polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Gaya and launched development projects worth `12,000 crore, signalling the NDAs push in the region. Union minister and HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi said, We have to improve our performance in Magadh. This is in the knowledge of the top NDA leaders, who are busy planning the poll strategy for the region. The BJP has also brought back Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh, hoping his popularity will boost its chances in crucial seats in the coming elections.
Special Vizag-Cherlapalli Trains For Dasara
Train No. 08589, the Visakhapatnam-Cherlapalli Dasara special, will depart from Visakhapatnam on October 3, at 7:30 pm and will arrive at Cherlapalli at 10:00 am the following morning.
Shivadhar Reddy Takes Charge As TG DGP
Shivadhar Reddy, a 1994 batch IPS officer of the RR cadre, hails from Tool-e-Kalan (Pedda Tundla) in Ibrahimpatnam mandal of Ranga Reddy district.
Deep Depression Set To Hit Odisha Coast Early Tomorrow
According to the IMD's meteorological centre in Amaravati, the depression was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, approximately 400 kilometres east-southeast of Visakhapatnam.
ECs SIR in Patna: 48 Lakh+ voters in 14 constituencies, 1.63 Lakh added after claims & objections
Magadh Gains Maximum Voters, Seemanchal Loses Most In Bihar List Revision
Bihar's Magadh region, which includes Patna, has seen the highest voter addition rate, and the minority-dominated Seemanchal region has recorded the highest voter deletion rate in the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists
India, US conduct naval exercise in Arabian sea amid tariff tussle
NEW DELHI: Despite strains in bilateral relations over tariff and trade issues, India and the United States continue to maintain strong military cooperation through regular exercises. The Indian Navy on Tuesday said that INS Imphal, an indigenous guided-missile destroyer, mission deployed in the Arabian Sea, participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the US Navys Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) on September 29, 2025. The exercises included tactical manoeuvres, cross-deck flying, anti-piracy VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) training, and sharing of best practices to enhance interoperability. According to the Navy, the exercise underscores the endeavours to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two nations. Both ships proceeded with scheduled operations after the exercise. This PASSEX followed the recently concluded 21st edition of the India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 held at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The Indian contingent, comprising personnel from a battalion of the Madras Regiment, also known as the Bobcats of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, US Army. Over the course of two weeks, troops rehearsed a wide range of tactical drills, including heliborne operations, the employment of surveillance resources and unmanned aerial systems, rockcraft, mountain warfare, casualty evacuation, combat medical aid, and the integrated use of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems. Yudh Abhyas is an annual exercise designed to enhance interoperability between the two armies. Looking ahead, Indias largest multinational maritime exercise is scheduled early next year on the eastern seaboard, with participation from the US Navy expected. The International Fleet Review (IFR) and Milan-2026 are scheduled to take place in Visakhapatnam from February 14 to 24. The President, Prime Minister, and other dignitaries are expected to attend, along with naval chiefs and representatives from around 145 countries. In February, US President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, DC. The leaders discussed deepening strategic convergence and reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to a dynamic defense partnership spanning multiple domains.
Statewide Agitation On Cards To Protect The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
The meeting, chaired by committee leader D. Adinarayana, has unanimously adopted a resolution to continue the struggle until privatisation is withdrawn: Reports
BJP accuses Jan Suraaj chief of fudging age in EC affidavits
Devotees flock to famous Badi Durga Mandir in Madhepura
Nitish will again be next CM: Chirag
Mob vandalises nursing home after youths death in Motihari
Bihar polls: BJP ropes in singer Pawan Singh; eyes Shahabad & Magadh seats
EC reviews preparations for assembly polls
High-level committee formed for aided, unaided institutions
Bihar SIR: Final electoral roll triggers war of words; opposition, NDA trade barb
The Election Commission released Bihar's final electoral roll. The opposition INDIA bloc sharply criticized the revision. They termed it a sham and alleged deletion of poor voters. The ruling NDA welcomed the list as transparent. NDA leaders countered vote chori claims. They noted the inclusion of over 21 lakh new voters. Many new voters belonged to EBC and Dalit communities.
All girls dance group Tumar from Kazakhstan to perform in Patna on October 4
JSP seeks PM Modi's intervention in removing Bihar Dy CM Samrat Choudhary from office
PATNA: Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) national president Uday Singh on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to remove Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary from his post over allegedly misrepresenting his age to obtain reprieve in a 1995 murder case. In his letter, former MP Singh alleged that Choudhary avoided conviction in the 1995 case, in which six people were killed, by misrepresenting his age. He said Choudhary was arrested and sent to judicial custody, and his bail petitions were rejected twice. Later, Choudhary produced a matriculation certificate showing his age as 15, and by declaring himself a minor, he obtained a court reprieve. However, in his 2020 election affidavit, Choudhary listed his year of birth as 1969, which would have made him 26 in 1995 when the incident occurred, Singh noted in his letter. This is evident from the fact that he misrepresented his age to get reprieve from the court in the murder case. Such action undermines public trust in governance and the rule of law. He should be removed from office, and the law allowed to take its course, Singhs letter read. Earlier, a JSP delegation led by Uday Singh visited Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, but they could not meet him and instead submitted a memorandum to his office. A day earlier, JSP founder Prashant Kishor had demanded that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remove Choudhary from the cabinet. Samrat Choudhary, however, denied the allegations, saying the Launa-Pasa case was settled by the court back in 1997-98. Kishor is raising the issue as he is a novice in politics, the Deputy CM said. Meanwhile, JSP plans to approach the court to seek justice for the victims families.
Oppose attempts to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, former MLC urges people
Odisha bypoll a litmus test for all three party leaders
The bypoll is set to shape the leadership of Odisha CM Mohan Majhi, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, and OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das, each facing their first election in a new role
Must not turn a blind eye to the victims while granting bail to accused: Supreme Court
The observation was part of an order passed by a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta setting aside a March 2024 order of the Patna High Court allowing anticipatory bail for two accused in a murder case
MLC seeks resignation of Capt. Chowta, Kamath for not being able to get RuB ready in four years
Foundation stone for the project was laid on March 28, 2021, traffic on the Morgans Gate-Jeppu Patna (NH 66 Junction) was closed on December 21, 2022
EC releases final voter list after SIR in Bihar ahead of assembly elections
PATNA: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday released the final list of electoral rolls after Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar ahead of assembly elections. The revised list has been made available on the official website of the poll body. Voters can check and verify their details online at https://voters.eci.gov.in . According to the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Bihar, there are 7,41,92,357 registered voters in Bihar. Of them, 3,92,07,604 electors are male and 3,49,82,828 are female. In addition, there are altogether 1,725 third-gender voters in the state. According to official records, 4,03,985 electors were 85 or above 85 years of age, whereas the number of young voters (between 18-19 years of age) stood at 14,01,150. Voters with physical disability account for 7,20,709. According to EC, more than 36,000 voters lodged claims to add their names, while 2.17 lakh voters filed for removal of names. Around three lakh voters were given notices for not submitting the required documents. In the final electoral roll, the names of deceased, transferred, and duplicate voters identified during the SIR have not been included. Report claims BJP move to remove nearly 80,000 Muslim voters from electoral rolls in Bihar's Dhaka According to the office of Bihar CEO, physical copies of the electoral rolls will be made available to all District Election-cum-District Magistrates. The final roll will also be provided to all recognised national and state-level political parties. It included the names of more than 7.24 crore voters who had submitted their enumeration forms. The state assembly elections will be held using this electoral roll. The draft electoral rolls were published on August 1 and were open for claims and objections by individuals and political parties till September 1. There were 7.24 crore electors in the draft electoral rolls. Bihar SIR faced strong criticism from Opposition parties, which argued that it could disenfranchise millions of legitimate voters. In response, the EC maintained that the process is designed to ensure no eligible citizen is excluded while preventing ineligible individuals from appearing on the voter list. The SIR was conducted after a gap of 22 years. Around 65 lakh voters had been removed from the draft electoral rolls, including those who had died, permanently moved out of the state, or were registered as voters in multiple locations. The Supreme Court is also hearing petitions against the SIR exercise . More than half of electorate in most states may not have to give any document in SIR: EC officials
Bihar SIR: 21.53 lakh electors added in final list before elections; 1.63 lakh added in Patna alone
The Election Commission released Bihar's final voter list, showing a significant increase in electors after a Special Intensive Revision. This process, which included a drive to remove illegal migrants, faces Supreme Court scrutiny and opposition allegations of irregularities. The EC, however, maintains its impartiality amidst the controversy.
People can look up their names by clicking on the link voters.eci.gov.in, the Election Commission said in a post on social media
EC Publishes Final Electoral Roll In Bihar Ahead Of Assembly Polls
PATNA, Sep 30: The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that it has come out with the final electoral roll in Bihar, taking into account all the claims and objections to the draft lists, which were published as part of special intensive revision (SIR). Ahead of the assembly elections, the Chief Electoral Officer in Bihar made the announcement on social media, tagging the Election Commission of India. In the light of Special Intensive Revision, the final electoral roll has been published [] The post EC Publishes Final Electoral Roll In Bihar Ahead Of Assembly Polls appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
RPF Constable Saves Passengers Life at Secunderabad Railway Station
While on duty, the constable witnessed Praveen, a resident of Manneguda in Ibrahimpatnam, attempting to board moving Inter City Express and slipped between the train and the platform around 5.30 am
Naveen Patnaik congratulated Shirish Chandra Murmu on his appointment as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Murmu, currently an Executive Director, will serve a three-year term starting October 2025. Meanwhile, the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee is expected to cut policy rates by 25 basis points this Wednesday, driven by a downward trend in inflation.
Bihar: Vaishnaw flags off 3 Amrit Bharat, 4 local trains - know the routes
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off three new Amrit Bharat Express trains and four local passenger trains, significantly boosting Bihar's rail connectivity. A ceremonial event at Patna Junction marked the occasion. Vaishnaw highlighted Bihar's fully electrified rail network and 1,899km of new track laid, with new services scheduled to commence shortly.
EAM Jaishankar meets Canadian FM, says appointment of envoys 'welcome step' in rebuilding ties
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand here, as he termed the appointment of envoys to Delhi and Ottawa as a welcome step to rebuild ties between the two countries. A good meeting with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada this morning in New York, Jaishankar said in a post on X Monday. The appointment of High Commissioners is welcome as we rebuild ties. Discussed further steps in that regard today. Look forward to welcoming FM Anand in India, he said. In August, India announced that Dinesh Patnaik has been appointed as India's next High Commissioner to Canada. Last week, Patnaik presented his credentials to Canada's Governor General Mary Simon and exchanged views on strengthening bilateral ties. Patnaik is a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer. High Commissioner @DineshKPatnaik presented Letter of Credence to H.E. The Right Honourable Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, followed by a Tete-a-tete. They exchanged views on strengthening India-Canada bilateral relations, said the Indian mission in Canada in an X post on Thursday. Last month, India and Canada appointed envoys to each other's capitals, signalling their efforts to repair ties that came under severe strain following the killing of a Sikh separatist in 2023. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the G7 summit at Kananaskis in Canada. In the meeting, both leaders agreed to pursue constructive steps to restore stability in India-Canada ties, including the early return of envoys to each other's capitals. Ties between India and Canada plummeted to an all-time low following a diplomatic spat over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The India-Canada relations hit rock bottom following then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in 2023 of a potential Indian link to the killing of Nijjar. In October last year, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats. However, Liberal Party leader Carney's victory in the parliamentary election in April helped begin the process of resetting relations. India-Canada ties on the mend as national security advisors meet in New Delhi
GVMC Standing Committee Clears Rs 33 Crore Development Projects Ahead Of CII Summit
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) held a special standing committee meeting on Monday at its head office, where several key development proposals were unanimously approved.
Body of missing hotel worker found in Muzaffarpur
Valuables worth Rs 12 lakh stolen from house in Samastipur
Awareness essential to prevent heart-related diseases: Docs
Bank CSP operator shot dead in Sitamarhi
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in New York, calling the appointment of High Commissioners to Delhi and Ottawa a welcome step to rebuild ties. Indias envoy Dinesh Patnaik recently presented his credentials in Canada.
Moderate to heavy rainfall across state likely from Oct 2: IMD
Bihar is set for active monsoon conditions from October 2, with moderate to heavy rainfall expected across the state until October 5. The IMD issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and lightning in 21 districts, including Patna, on Tuesday.
Minister slams RJD, Congress for ignoring EBCs representation
Senior BJP minister Prem Kumar slammed RJD and Congress for allegedly ignoring and humiliating backward and extremely backward classes (EBCs). He contrasted this with NDA's consistent promotion of these communities, citing RJD's alleged exclusion of specific EBC castes and Lalu Prasad's past insults to Karpoori Thakur. Kumar emphasized BJP's commitment, highlighting Bharat Ratna for Thakur and OBC/ST leadership.
Truck-auto collision claims 3 lives in Rohtas
2 die, 3 hurt in head-on bike collision in Nalanda
Two people died and three others sustained injuries in a head-on collision between two motorcycles near Daulatpur village in Nalanda on Monday. The accident occurred when one bike, returning from a puja, attempted to overtake a truck and collided with another. Police are investigating the exact cause, reviewing CCTV footage amidst an unverified claim of a truck's involvement.
Traffic curbs, diversions announced for Ravan Dahan in Patna on Oct 2
Patna will implement strict traffic restrictions from 11 am on October 2 for the Ravan Dahan event at Gandhi Maidan. Vehicle movement towards the venue is prohibited from multiple locations, with extensive parking bans around the area. Designated parking spots are available for pass-holders and the public.
Two students die after hit by car in Purnia
Tragedy struck Purnia as two girl students died and another was seriously injured after being hit by a speeding car involved in liquor smuggling. Rajnandini Kumari and Monika Kumari were killed. Outraged locals blocked a state highway, demanding swift action against the liquor mafia and blaming police negligence. Authorities seized the vehicle, registered FIRs, and are actively tracing the driver.
Railways approves new line to boost connectivity, religious tourism in Bihar
The Ministry of Railways has approved a new Rs 492.14 crore railway line between Pawapuri and Nawada in Bihar. This project aims to significantly boost regional connectivity and promote religious tourism, especially for Jain and Buddhist pilgrimage sites like Pawapuri, Rajgir, and Gaya. It will also benefit local commuters and open up economic opportunities.
Urban water metro service likely to be launched in Dec: Official
Patna will launch its Urban Water Metro Project in December. This initiative integrates boat services with the city's metro rail network. It promises faster, eco-friendly travel along the Ganga river. A trial run of the MV-Gomadharkonwar ship recently occurred. Another trial is set after Durga Puja. Engineers will continue trials for two months.
Prashant Kishor reveals Rs 241 crore earnings; takes jab at Grand Alliance, NDA over corruption
PATNA: Days after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader sought details about the funding of the Jan Suraaj Party, its founder and political strategist, Prashant Kishor, on Monday disclosed his income sources, stating that he earned Rs 241 crore as consultancy fees over the past three years. Jan Suraaj Partys funding is transparent and clean. I worked as a consultant and charged fees for my work. I earned Rs 241 crore in three years, paid Rs 31 crore as GST and Rs 20 crore as Income Tax, and donated Rs 98.5 crore to Jan Suraaj Party through cheque, Kishor told the media. He acknowledged that the party also received donations from others. Before seeking assistance, you start with yourself. I have done nothing wrong despite questions about my sources of income. I want to clarify that there is no wrongdoing in Jan Suraaj Party, he added. Addressing comparisons with politicians with tainted pasts, Kishor said he came to Bihar with a clear vision. I have not come to Bihar to make money. Every rupee I have earned is accounted for under government scrutiny. I will stay in Bihar for the next 10 years until the system changes, he said. Kishor admitted to receiving Rs 11 crore from a company seeking his consultancy for a product launch and challenged the Central government to probe his earnings through the ED or any other agency, stating, I am ready to face inquiry. Regarding his sources of income, he said, Whatever I earn from my intellect, I want to spend on the states development, adding that he joined active politics solely to reform Bihar. I have come with a clear vision, and there will be no deviation. I planned meticulously before entering politics, so nobody should assume I will leave the state. I stand by my commitment to the people of Bihar, he said. He asserted that he would rather die than side with corrupt politicians, accusing leaders of both the RJD-Congress-led Grand Alliance and the BJP-JD(U)-led NDA of corruption and public fund misappropriation. Earlier, BJP MP Dr Sanjay Jaiswal had sought details about the funding of the Jan Suraaj Party. On allegations against JD(U) minister Ashok Choudhary, Kishor said he would next reveal details of Choudharys benami property worth Rs 500 crore if he did not withdraw a legal notice and issue a public apology. I have given a week for him to withdraw his Rs 100 crore legal notice and apologise publicly. If he fails, I will reveal his benami property worth Rs 500 crore, Kishor stated. He also sought clarification from the Vaibhav Vikas Trust, which purchased property worth Rs 100 crore over the past one and a half years in Patna. Kishor asked trustee members, including Jiya Lal Arya (retired IAS), Anita Kunal (wife of former IPS Kishore Kunal), and the mother-in-law of incumbent chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit, to clarify the source of funds used for the property acquisition in Patna.
Youth murdered over suspected love affair in Gopalganj
A 20-year-old student, Vicky Kumar, was brutally murdered in Gopalganj, allegedly over a suspected romantic relationship. He was ambushed by unidentified assailants who slit his throat after he went to meet a girl with a friend. Police are investigating the online chat angle and also suspect the friend's behavior as they search for the culprits.
Body of missing woman found stuffed in plastic bag in Kaimur
The body of Chandni Devi, missing since Friday, was recovered on Monday on her house rooftop in Kaimur district, stuffed in a plastic bag. Her family found it due to a foul smell, leading to a police investigation. Family members accused police negligence, while authorities suspect murder and are examining mobile phones for clues.
Indian Society of Nephrology, Eastern zone, gets new president
Final Bihar voter list to be published tomorrow; poll schedule announcement likely next week
Bihar's final electoral roll will be published on Tuesday. The Election Commission plans to announce the assembly poll schedule next week. EC officials will visit Patna on October 4 and 5 for preparedness review. The first phase of elections may occur after Chhath festival. Observers are being deployed for the state. The current assembly term ends on November 22.
Supporting people through social service
The New Student Club of JD Womens College in Patna is making a significant impact, blending traditional pujas with vital social activism. Beyond organizing Chhath festivities and community clean-ups, members actively combat dowry, child marriage, and human trafficking. They also educate residents about the dangers of spurious liquor, showcasing a holistic approach to community upliftment.
Railway minister flags off seven new trains
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off three new Amrit Bharat Express and four passenger trains, significantly boosting Bihar's rail connectivity ahead of the festive season. This expansion includes routes like Darbhanga-Madar and Patna-Buxar, with regular services commencing soon. Vaishnaw highlighted Bihar's increased rail budget and ongoing projects worth over one lakh crore.
Bihar DyCM lied before court to escape trial in murder case, alleges Kishor
Patna: Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Monday alleged that Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary had escaped trial in a decades-old murder case by falsely claiming to be a minor before the court. Addressing a press conference here, Kishor said Choudharys affidavit, filed in 2020 at the time of getting elected to 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 .
Prashant Kishor demands Bihar deputy CM's resignation for misleading court in 1995 murder case
PATNA: Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Monday demanded the immediate resignation of Bihars deputy chief minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary for securing relief in a 1995 murder case by providing wrong information to the court about his age. Talking to media persons, Kishor said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should immediately drop Choudhary from his cabinet and get him arrested for being a murder accused in the killing of six persons and misleading the court by providing wrong information about his real age. If CM does not take action, a delegation of the party will meet the Governor to demand Choudhary's resignation and his arrest, Kishor said, adding that how could a man remain on the constitutional post after being a murder accused? Samrat Choudhary, also known as Rakesh Kumar or Rakesh Kumar Maurya, was booked in connection with the murder of six persons under the Tarapur police station limits in Munger district in 1995. He secured relief from the court on the plea that he was underage at the time of the incident. Kishor said that Choudhary had claimed before the Supreme court that he was only 15 years old when the incident took place. As a result, he was released from the court on the plea of being a juvenile. The matter remained under wraps for years. On the contrary, Choudhary, in his affidavit for the 2020 assembly election, mentioned his age as 51 years. Kishor said, If Choudharys affidavit is to be believed, he was 26 years old in 1995 when he was named as an accused in the murder case,. The scrutiny of the documents showed that Samrat Choudhary declared himself a minor to get benefits under the Juvenile Justice Act. He was released from the court based on wrong information provided by the accused, Jan Suraaj Party founder said. Choudhary had submitted the certificate released by the Bihar School Examination Board as evidence to prove his age. Jan Suraaj Party founder also sought to know about Choudharys role in the infamous Shilpi-Gautam murder case in Patna during the RJD rule. I would like to know from him where he was quizzed by CBI or his blood samples were collected for test, he told the media. Kishor also expressed surprise over Union Home Minister Amit Shah meeting with a murder accused during his visit to Bihar. The man who should have been behind the bar is moving with the union home minister in the same vehicle, he said.
Report claims BJP move to remove nearly 80,000 Muslim voters from electoral rolls in Bihar's Dhaka
Repeated attempts were made, allegedly by the BJP, to delete nearly 80,0000 Muslim voters from the electoral rolls in the Dhaka constuituency in the East Champaran district of Bihar, an investigation by the Reporters Collective has revealed. According to the report, the submissions included an official letter from the BJP's state headquarters in Patna, addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state, demanding massive voter deletion targeting Muslims, claiming that they were not Indian citizens. The investigation found that the initial attempt was made by one Dhiraj Kumar, the saffron party's booth-level agent (BLA) in Dhaka and also the personal assistant of the constituency's BJP MLA, Pawan Kumar Jaiswal. The initial submissions, seeking the removal of as many as 130 Muslims, were made within a period of thirteen days before the Election Commission of India's (ECI) deadline for submitting amendments to the draft list published after the first phase of the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The submissions, ten each for thirteen days starting on August 19, were made to the district Electoral Registration Officer. The petitions signed by the BLA on behalf of the party stated, I hereby declare that the information furnished by me is on the basis of proper verification of the part of the electoral roll given to me and I am aware of the penal provisions of Section 31 of Representation of Peoples Act, 1950 for making false declaration. However, it did not mention why the party wanted the voters to be deleted from the list, even when the application forms require the BLAs to provide reasons. The most bizarre submission was made on the last day for the submission of complaints, August 31. The submission, signed by Dhiraj Kumar, sought the removal of 78,384Muslim voters from Dhaka's electoral rolls. Their names and EPIC numbers were listed systematically in the submission. The submission said that people who had not existed on the voter list till January 2025 had been put on the SIR draft list without providing the various documentary proofs that the ECI mandated, including their domicile certificates. Subsequently, an official letter on the letterheadof the BJP state headquarters in Patna was sent to the CEO, seeking the deletion of the same 78,384Muslim voters, but for a different reason. The letter claimed that the voters were not Indian citizens. The letter was signed by one 'Lokesh' as Tirhut Pramandal Prabhari, Election Management Department, Bihar. According to the Reporter's Collective , when contacted, BJP's local leaders denied the existence of a person named Lokesh representing the party. However, the party leaders did not deny the existence of the letter or renounce the applications filed by the BLA. Moreover, the BJP has so far not distanced itself from the submissions nor filed any police complaint regarding them being forgeries in the party's name. Massive disenfranchisement According to the investigation, among the nearly 80,000 voters that the BJP wants removed from the electoral rolls is the entire family of Firoz Alam, the sarpanch of the Fulwaria Gram Panchayat, the village of MLA Pawan Jaiswal. My family has lived in this village for several generations. I have contested in the local panchayat elections. How could I have done this if I am not a resident of India? Now, the BJP has shared my name, my wifes name, and the name of my children, naming them as dubious voters, Alam was quoted as saying by the Reporters Collective. In the Chandanbara village with a majority Mulsim population, the 5000 voters named in the BJP's complaint include booth-level officers, school teachers, and booth-level agents. With a substantive Muslim-Yadav population, Dhaka, a constituency in the Indo-Nepal border, has historically been a stronghold of the Congress and later the RJD. Notably, the BJP wrested the Dhaka seat from the RJD in the 2020 Assembly elections by a margin of 10,114 votes against the total 2.08 lakh votes polled.Now the BJP has allegedly made attempts to remove 40% of the voters in the constituency, which could have a significant impact on the upcoming elections. The revelations come at a time when the ECI is facing flak from the opposition parties for the lack of transparency in the SIR exercise. The opposition parties have stated that the exercise, conducted in a hurried manner just ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar, is intended to disenfranchise a large population in favour of the BJP-led NDA alliance.
Meanwhile, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the Indian team on its victory and lauded its unbeaten run in the tournament.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off seven new trains from Patna, including three Amrit Bharat Express services. This expansion brings the total Amrit Bharat Express trains to 15, with 13 now operating from Bihar, significantly boosting connectivity. Additionally, four new passenger trains will enhance rail services for various regions, fulfilling long-pending demands.
Madaviya Targets Pak: Lost on Border, Lost in Field
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the Indian team on its victory and lauded its unbeaten run in the tournament.
CAPFs directed to deploy 5,000 troops for polls
NEW DELHI: With the Election Commission of India (ECI) likely to announce the polls schedule for Bihar Assembly elections after the first week of October, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to spare 5,000 troops for initial deployment and 120 additional companies for area domination in the state. The poll panel on Sunday also announced appointments of general, police and expenditure observers, drawn from IAS, IPS and IRS cadre officers, for the successful conduct of free and fair elections. Sources in the poll panel said, the full Commission led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar is expected to visit Bihar on October 4-5 to review preparedness for the forthcoming elections in the State. Kumar along with Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi would be in Patna, where they will hold meetings with the Chief Electoral Officer and other state officials. According to an official MHA communication, the officials said, the induction of forces will be completed by October 5, 2025. The units will be drawn from across CAPFs including 118 companies of CRPF, 99 of BSF, 92 of CISF, 75 of ITBP, 96 of SSB and 20 of RPF.
Pradhan calls on Nitish to seal seat-sharing deal, announcement likely soon
PATNA: Seat-sharing deal among NDA partners for assembly elections has almost been sealed after Union minister and BJPs election in-charge for Bihar Dharmendra Pradhans meeting with Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar in Patna on Sunday. Accompanied by deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary, Pradhan discussed seat-sharing arrangements with Nitish. JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha was also present at the meeting. BJP leaders, however, described it a courtesy meeting. Sources said the BJP and JD(U) have stuck a consensus, and an official announcement is expected to be made soon. The emerging formula indicated that JD(U) could contest on 102 seats and BJP on 101. The arithmetic has been reached keeping Nitishs insistence of at least one more seat than BJP in mind. The sources claimed that Pradhan shared information about seats to be contested by BJP with Nitish. The BJP-JD(U) has left 22 seats for Chirag Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (RV). The remaining 18 seats will be offered to other allies. Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Marcha are to be offered six and four seats, respectively, the sources said. Five seats may be offered to others. Chirag is learnt to have prepared a list of at least 22 seats which the LJP(RV) intended to contest. However, some of the seats in the list are currently held by JD(U), BJP and HAM. Chirag is likely to meet Amit Shah in Delhi either today or tomorrow, said an office-bearer of LJP(RV). Earlier, Chirags party had staked claim on 45 seats. In the 2020 election, BJP contested 110 seats and won 74 of them. The JD(U) could manage only 43 seats of the 115 seats it contested. Former union minister Upendra Kushwahas RLM had contested with Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM but now it is a part of NDA.
Para athletes golden leap makes Bihar proud
PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday hailed Shailesh Kumar for winning a gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championship 2025 held in New Delhi. The CM announced a reward of Rs 75 lakh for Shailesh in addition to a citation, saying the youths record-making performance at the championship was a testament to the transformation in the field of sports in Bihar. Twenty-five-year-old Shailesh from Bihars Jamui district won a gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championship 2025 on Saturday. In the mens T42/64 high jump finals, Shailesh cleared a personal best of 1.91m to shatter both the championship and Asian records. Nitish wrote on X, Its a moment of pride not only for Bihar but also for India. The historic win of Shailesh will inspire other young athletes. Director General-cum Chief Executive Officer of Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), Raveendran Sankaran, also congratulated Shailesh for his historic performance at the championship. Shaileshs father, Shivnandan Yadav, is on cloud nine ever since he came to know about his sons record-making performance at the championship. Till recently, Shaileshs father was not aware about his sons profession. He has been working as a CDPO in Bihar government, which is what I know about my sons job. Some neighbours recently told me that Shailesh is a para-athlete, which I have never heard, Shivnandan said. The family distributed sweets among neighbours to celebrate the occasion. The villagers will felicitate him once he returns from New Delhi. After all, it is his maiden world gold, said a local resident. Hailing from Islam Nagar village in Jamui district, Shailesh had lost his right leg to polio at the age of five. But he did not let his disability restrict his ambitions. He started practice and worked hard to achieve his goals. His father said that Shailesh finished his schooling and graduated from Jamui. He used to compete with able-bodied athletes when he was in school. He used to play with his schoolmates and neighbours at the native village, recalled Shaileshs father. This is not the first occasion that Shailesh has won medals, including the Para Asian Games. He was the first Bihari athlete to win a gold medal in the Asian Games, said Raveendra Sankaran, DG-cum-CEO of BSSA.
Harsh Vardhan becomes youngest prez of Bihar Cricket
Patna, Sep 28: Harsh Vardhan, 24, on Sunday became the youngest president in Bihar Cricket Associations history. The elections were conducted and declared under the supervision of M. Modassir (IAS Retired), who served as the Electoral Officer. Being the youngest President of the Bihar Cricket Association comes with both pride and a sense of duty. [] The post Harsh Vardhan becomes youngest prez of Bihar Cricket appeared first on The Shillong Times .
Portion of under-construction bridge collapses in Bihar CM Nitishs home district, six injured
PATNA: At least six workers were injured, two seriously, when a portion of an under-construction railway overbridge collapsed in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars home district of Nalanda late on Sunday. The injured were rushed to a government hospital for treatment. The incident occurred while workers were engaged in construction on the bridge on Gonava Road near Harnaut Bazar, within the Harnaut police station limits. Several workers were trapped under the debris and sustained injuries. The sudden collapse caused panic among passersby, who ran for cover. Locals immediately alerted the Harnaut police station and requested urgent rescue operations. Amrendra Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Harnaut police station, said a police team rushed to the site near the Harnaut railway crossing. Six workers suffered injuries in the incident. Rescue operation is underway, he added. Local residents blamed poor construction quality for the collapse. The cause of the collapse of the under-construction bridge will be ascertained after a formal investigation, said a senior district official. Bridge collapses are not new in Bihar. Recently, Congress general secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra highlighted at a public meeting in Motihari that 27 bridges had collapsed in the state over a span of three years. Priyanka Gandhi calls for change in Bihar, unveils welfare promises at Motihari Rally
EC to deploy 470 central observers for Bihar polls & bypolls in 7 states
KMC & IGNOU win parliamentary debate
