The TOI's Durge Devi Namastute campaign in Patna concluded, recognizing Durga Puja committees for their idols, pandals, themes, and ambience. Committees pledged to enhance environmental focus and aesthetic elements. Jury members and participants discussed improvements, including eco-friendly materials and immersive pandal experiences, aiming to elevate future celebrations.

The Election Commission of India has completed the first randomisation of EVMs and VVPATs for the second phase of Bihar assembly elections, covering 122 constituencies across 20 districts. This transparent process, conducted in the presence of political party representatives, involved the allotment of over 54,000 ballot and control units, along with 58,000 VVPATs, to ensure fairness in the upcoming polls.

A Delhi court has named Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav as accused in the IRCTC scam. Charges will be framed against them. This development provides the NDA with a political weapon ahead of the Bihar assembly elections. BJP and JD(U) leaders have sharply criticized the RJD family over alleged corruption. The RJD claims it is political vendetta.

As Patna gears up for elections, a narrow lane near the high court has become a hub for tailors stitching kurta-pyjamas for politicians and party workers. White khadi and linen kurtas are in high demand, with prices varying. Tailors reflect on their role in shaping leaders' appearances and their hopes for formal recognition.

Jan Suraaj has announced its candidates for three assembly constituencies in Buxar district, including Buxar, Dumraon, and Rajpur. Tathagat Harshvardhan will contest from Buxar, Shivang Vijay Singh from Dumraon, and Dhananjay Paswan from Rajpur. The party aims to approach voters with a focus on honesty, transparency, and public issues.

RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav met senior Congress leaders in New Delhi to finalize seat-sharing for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Discussions involved RJD, Congress, and Left parties, with seat distribution still being settled. An announcement of candidates and a joint manifesto is anticipated this week.

CPI(ML) has issued party symbols to its three incumbent MLAs for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, despite seat-sharing talks within the Grand Alliance remaining unfinished. Sandeep Saurabh, Ajeet Kumar Kushwaha, and Rambali Singh will file nominations soon. Meanwhile, CPI and CPI-M are also preparing their candidates, urging a swift finalization of the alliance's seat distribution.

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati concluded his 33-day 'Gaumatadata Sankalp Yatra' in Patna, urging voters to pledge cow protection and vote for candidates against slaughter. He emphasized that every vote holds power to protect 'mother cow' and declared a new era of Sanatani politics beginning in Bihar, highlighting cow protection as a matter of existence and faith.

A district committee in Patna has been formed to expedite the return of seized cash, following Election Commission guidelines. If no election link is found or no FIR is filed, cash will be released promptly. Appeals must be made within two days, or the funds will be forfeited. Larger sums require Income Tax clearance.

Patna residents are facing hazardous road conditions due to numerous civic and infrastructure projects leaving stretches dug up without proper safety measures. With festivals approaching, authorities have been directed to address complaints, ensure barricading and lighting, and complete all pending road restoration work before Chhath.

Jan Suraaj announced its second list of candidates for 65 Bihar assembly seats, excluding the Raghopur seat, a stronghold of Lalu Prasad's family. Founder Prashant Kishor is expected to contest against Tejashwi Yadav from Raghopur, but his name was not revealed. The party has now named candidates for 116 out of 243 seats.

A 65-year-old farmer, Narayan Yadav, was found decapitated in Saharsa district, sparking fear. Yadav had gone to collect fodder and never returned. Authorities are conducting a serious investigation to identify those responsible for the brutal killing, with the search for the missing head ongoing. The incident has caused significant panic in the Kanria village area.

A 12-year-old male tiger, responsible for two fatal attacks in West Champaran, was captured after a two-week search. Forest officials safely rescued the animal from a sugarcane field and relocated it to Patna's biological park, bringing relief to terrorized villagers.

Sushant Singh Rajput's cousin, Divya Gautam, a former Patna University Students' Union candidate and stage artist, will represent the INDIA bloc from Digha in Bihar's assembly elections. The CPI-ML is fielding her against BJP's sitting MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia. Divya, an alumna of Patna University and a PhD scholar, brings a fresh political challenge to the large Digha constituency.

RJD MLA Sangeeta Kumari and Congress MLA Siddharth Saurabh, along with former MP Sunil Kumar Pintu and ex-chief income tax commissioner Sujit Kumar, joined the BJP on Monday. The BJP state president anticipates more opposition MLAs will switch parties soon, highlighting the NDA's unity ahead of elections.

Central University of South Bihar Vice-Chancellor Kameshwar Nath Singh stated that the 'one nation, one subscription' scheme has significantly boosted research by providing easy access to information. This initiative, offering online access to quality journals from 30 publishers, is expected to contribute to India's developed status by 2047.

A tragic head-on collision between a car and a truck in West Champaran district claimed two lives and left three others critically injured. The victims were returning from a wedding ceremony when the accident occurred. Police have identified the deceased and the injured, and sent the bodies for postmortem.

Sainik School Gopalganj celebrated its 23rd foundation day with enthusiasm, marked by Class VI cadets cutting a cake.

Bihar Cricket Association has announced its squad for the Ranji Trophy. Sakibul Gani will captain the 15-member team, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi as his deputy. This comes after a day of headlines regarding a shortage of selectors. A stop-gap arrangement was made with BCCI approval to ensure a team could be fielded for the upcoming matches.

Three people died when a boat carrying 15 villagers capsized in the Sikrahana river in East Champaran district on Saturday night. The overloaded boat overturned due to strong winds and water currents while returning with cattle fodder. Local residents and NDRF teams rescued 12 people, and compensation will be provided to the victims' families.

An FIR was lodged against Jan Suraaj's block president in Vaishali for alleged model code of conduct violations during Prashant Kishor's campaign. Hundreds participated, exceeding permitted numbers. Kishor, unfazed by potential bans, stated he would cease campaigning if directed. Jan Suraaj plans to release its second candidate list soon, amidst speculation Kishor might contest against Tejashwi in Raghopur.

RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav asserted that Bihar will be free from unemployment after November 14, claiming the INDIA bloc will form the next government. He reiterated his promise of a government job for every family without one, citing his previous tenure where five lakh jobs were provided.

INDIA bloc's seat-sharing talks in Bihar face further delays as RJD leaders Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav attend court in Delhi. Disagreements persist between RJD and Congress over seat allocation, while VIP's demands for significant seats and a deputy CM post add complexity. The alliance aims to finalize the deal soon.

As Bihar's assembly elections intensify, political parties are deploying a fleet of over a dozen helicopters and chartered flights to reach voters across the state. Major parties like BJP, Congress, JD(U), and RJD have secured aerial transport for star campaigners and leaders, ensuring maximum reach and rapid movement between constituencies.

The NDA has finalised its seat-sharing formula for the Bihar assembly elections, with BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each. LJP(RV) will contest 29 seats, while HAM(S) and RLM will fight for six seats each. All alliance partners have expressed unity and welcomed the unanimous decision.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, unfollowed his younger brother Tejashwi on X, weeks before Bihar assembly elections. This social media move signals deepening family tensions, particularly after Tej Pratap's expulsion from the RJD in May following a personal controversy. He has since launched his own political outfit.

Two RJD legislators, Vibha Devi and Prakash Veer, resigned from the Bihar assembly on Sunday, fueling speculation they will join the JD(U). Their recent appearance at a PM Modi rally had already hinted at a shift. The Speaker accepted their resignations, marking a significant setback for the RJD.

A 20-year-old woman, mother of two children, was allegedly forced into marriage with her lover by her in-laws in Bhagalpur. The couple was caught together, leading to a village-witnessed ceremony where the lover applied sindoor. No formal complaint has been filed despite a video surfacing.

Patna administration is intensifying its SVEEP campaign, including a voter awareness cycle rally, to achieve a 66% voter turnout in upcoming assembly elections. 'Mission 60' targets low-turnout polling stations, while door-to-door efforts aim to combat urban apathy and encourage participation from all voter segments.

Chirag Paswan's LJP(RV) emerged as the biggest winner in Bihar NDA seat-sharing, securing 29 seats for the upcoming assembly elections. The BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each, a shift from the traditional formula. This outcome reflects Paswan's strong negotiating position within the alliance.

Bihar elections are seeing massive crackdowns as authorities seize over Rs 20 crore in cash, liquor, drugs, and precious metals since the model code of conduct began. Joint operations have also led to the confiscation of illegal weapons and the raiding of manufacturing units, underscoring a commitment to a fair electoral process.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage with NDA workers in Bihar on October 15, emphasising the 'Mera booth sabse majboot' campaign. This interaction, ahead of the Bihar assembly elections on November 6 and 11, aims to strengthen the BJP-NDA at the grassroots level. Workers are invited to share their suggestions for the campaign.

A 65-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by neighbours in Bihar's Aurangabad district on suspicion of practising witchcraft. The victim, Baleshwar Bhuiyan, was assaulted with sticks and stones, his face crushed with rocks. Police have taken five suspects into custody for interrogation.

Darbhanga's election expenditure monitoring cell met with nodal officers, emphasizing strict adherence to SOPs for upcoming assembly polls. Observers directed flying squad and static surveillance teams to conduct checks with dignity, ensuring essential services like ambulances are not unduly delayed. Vigilance against voter influence through freebies was also stressed.

Salaries of 86 polling officers in Buxar have been withheld for failing to attend mandatory election training. These officers must provide a written explanation for their absence within 24 hours or face an FIR for dereliction of duty. Training is ongoing for the first phase of Bihar assembly elections.

The ruling JD(U) has finalized candidates for nearly all 101 seats it will contest in Bihar's upcoming assembly polls alongside NDA allies. The party is expected to announce most names by Monday or Tuesday, marking a shift as it contests an equal number of seats as the BJP for the first time since 2005.

Ahead of Bihar polls, Tej Pratap Yadav has unfollowed siblings on X, forming his own party, Janshakti Janata Dal. He announced his candidate list for October 13 and will contest from Mahua. This comes after his expulsion from RJD due to a controversy. His party faces competition from established alliances and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj.

A 25-year-old woman was allegedly burnt alive by her husband in Nalanda district, with her family claiming he wanted to remarry his girlfriend. The accused husband and his parents fled the village after the incident. Police are conducting raids to apprehend the suspects.

Bihar's Ranji Trophy campaign faces an unprecedented crisis just days before its start. The team lacks a selected squad and support staff due to a shortage of selectors. While the Bihar Cricket Association is working to fill vacant positions with BCCI's expected provisional appointments, the situation remains uncertain for the premier domestic tournament.

Over 200 scientists have gathered at IIT-Patna for the Society of Physical Chemistry's third annual conference. The four-day event aims to advance knowledge, foster collaborations, and drive scientific progress. Eminent researchers and young scientists will present their work through lectures and poster sessions.

The Patna Municipal Corporation is illuminating 109 ghats with over 47,000 lights for Chhath, ensuring devotees' convenience with special decorations and power backup. Additional arrangements include clean water, toilets, and safety measures like marked dangerous ghats, as the Ganga's water level decreases.

A 25-year-old woman, Sunita Devi, was allegedly set ablaze by her husband and in-laws in Nalanda district. Her family claims the motive was her husband's desire to remarry due to the couple having no children. Police are searching for the absconding accused and have collected forensic evidence.

Saran police, in collaboration with Gujarat counterparts and NGOs, have busted a newborn trafficking racket. An accused gang leader was arrested, and a baby sold for Rs 5 lakh was rescued from Siwan. The investigation is ongoing to apprehend other involved individuals and ensure swift justice.

Gulshan Wadhwa, former advisor to the Department of Biotechnology at CUSB, emphasized the critical role of innovation and strategic thinking in scientific research during an interactive session. He urged students to adopt unconventional approaches, drawing parallels with Nobel laureates whose breakthrough work stemmed from unique problem-solving perspectives.

A schoolteacher traveling without a valid ticket on the Ranchi-Gorakhpur Express was fined by a TTE. Upon reaching Deoria station, she allegedly misbehaved with railway staff and created a public nuisance. The RPF has registered a case and issued summons after a video of the incident went viral.