LIVE: Now the double engine govt will benefit Bihar, says JP Nadda

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10:35 PM

Trinamool Congress demands immediate release of central MGNREGA funds due to West Bengal

The Trinamool Congress on Sunday took out a rally in the metropolis, demanding the immediate release of MGNREGA funds due to the state by the Centre.Thousands of TMC activists and senior party leaders took part in the rally that started from Golpark area and culminated at Hazra Crossing, in south Kolkata. Senior minister Firhad Hakim and Rasbehari MLA Debashis Kumar were among those who led the march

10:18 PM

BMC Khichdi scam: ED summons Sanjay Raut's brother Sandeep Raut for questioning on Jan 30

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) summoned Sandeep Raut for questioning in connection with the Khichdi COVID scam case on Sunday. Sandeep Raut, brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has been asked to depose at the federal agency's office on January 30, Tuesday. Earlier on January 18, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Suraj Chavan and a close aide of party leader Aaditya Thackeray were sent to the ED custody in the case. Chavan was alleged to have been involved in financial irregularities worth Rs 1 crore linked to the distribution of "khichdi" to migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

9:38 PM

Modi wave felt across India including Odisha: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Claiming that India has been witnessing a "Modi Wave", senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday asserted that Odisha is all set to witness a major political change with the people of the state reposing trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Pradhan said this while attending booth-level public contact programmes in Bhubaneswar and Pipili. "Today, entire India including Odisha has been witnessing a Modi wave. The blessings and respect of the people of Odisha towards the Prime Minister are increasing. Modi guarantee is the hope of people," Pradhan said.

9:00 PM

LS speaker Om Birla says committee to be formed under Narwekar to review anti-defection law

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Sunday that a committee headed by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar would be formed to review the country's anti-defection law. He made the announcement after the 84th All India Presiding Officers' Conference here.The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the prevention of defection of the elected and nominated members from their political party and contains stringent provisions for curbing the menace of switching over of legislators. Birla said Narwekar will head the committee that will be formed to review the anti-defection law.

8:37 PM

Xi says ready to 'break new ground' to solidify China-France ties after Macron inks defence deals with India

Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to the China-France ties, days after French President Emmanuel Macron's high-profile visit to India during which the two countries unveiled an ambitious defence roadmap besides intensifying cooperation in the strategic Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region. Macron's visit to India also coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.

8:06 PM

I express my gratitude to PM Modi: Nitish Kumar after taking oath as Bihar CM for record 9th time

7:40 PM

Nitish Kumar is natural ally, with him we will sweep 2024 LS polls: BJP National President Nadda

BJP on Sunday described the party's alliance with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as "natural" and asserted that the coalition will benefit the state. Addressing a press conference here, shortly after he attended Kumar's swearing in with his party as an alliance partner, BJP national president JP Nadda asserted that NDA will "sweep" the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He also attacked the opposition bloc INDIA, saying it stands for "bhrashtachar bachao, parivar bachao”( protect corruption and save the family). He said the new NDA government headed by Nitish Kumar will make 'Ujjwal Bihar.' "The people of Bihar had given the mandate in the last assembly polls to our natural alliance with Nitish Kumar. Bihar has gained whenever we have been in power together, be it in terms of law and order or economic development," he said.

7:36 PM

I thank BJP leadership, PM Modi for showing confidence in me: Vijay Sinha after taking oath as deputy CM

7:23 PM

Bihar politics LIVE update: With NDA govt, there will be improvement in law & order, says BJP Prez Nadda

BJP National President J P Nadda said that now with the NDA govt, there will be stability and improvement in law and order in Bihar. He further said that INDIA bloc stands for protecting family and shielding corruption. "Bihar will benefit from double-engine government," Nadda added. 

6:58 PM

NDA govt in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for development of state: PM Modi after Nitish takes oath as CM

6:51 PM

Bihar politics: 8 leaders took oath as ministers today, more will be inducted soon, says Nitish Kumar

6:45 PM

Bihar news LIVE: Now Nitish Kumar has aligned himself with ideology of PM Modi, says Chirag Paswan

6:44 PM

Bihar politics LIVE: I came back to NDA, now there is no question of going anywhere else, says Nitish Kumar

5:40 PM

8 leaders take oath as cabinet ministers; 3 from BJP, 3 from JD(U), one each from HAM(S), independent

5:28 PM

Nitish kept us in dark; he also kept Lalu Yadav in dark: Congress Prez Kharge on Nitish joining BJP-led NDA

5:24 PM

Nitish takes oath as Bihar CM LIVE: JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary takes oath as minister

5:19 PM

Vijay Kumar Sinha profile: Experienced upper-caste leader; associated with RSS since student politics days

An experienced upper-caste BJP leader, Vijay Kumar Sinha has held posts as varied as the Bihar Assembly Speaker, a cabinet minister and Leader of the Opposition. Sinha, 64, was elected the deputy leader of the BJP legislature party on Sunday, and with this elevation, he is likely to become one of the two deputy CMs in the new NDA government, led by Nitish Kumar. Born to a school teacher in Lakhisarai district, he is enjoying his third consecutive term in the assembly from the eponymous constituency. Sinha, who belongs to the influential Bhumihar community, was an active member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the RSS' student wing, while pursuing a diploma course in civil engineering at a polytechnic in Barauni.

5:13 PM

Nitish joins BJP-led NDA LIVE update: Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for record 9th time

5:03 PM

Samrat Choudhary profie: OBC leader whose stock rose rapidly upon joining BJP

An OBC leader of the BJP in Bihar where the party wants to transcend its "pro-upper caste" image, Samrat Choudhary has had a meteoric rise since he joined the outfit nearly seven years ago. Choudhary was elected the leader of the BJP legislature party on Sunday, and with this elevation, he is likely to become one of the two deputy CMs in the new NDA government, led by Nitish Kumar. His father, Shakuni Choudhary was an army man-turned-politician who started off in the Congress, and frequently switched allegiance between arch-rivals Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar. Samrat was a minister in the government headed by Rabri Devi, the RJD supremo's wife, and remained with the party for quite a while after it was ousted from power in 2005.

5:00 PM

Bihar politics LIVE news: Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhavan in Patna for oath ceremony

4:53 PM

BJP's Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Sinha likely to take oath as dty CMs of Bihar

4:48 PM

Bihar political crisis update: BJP Prez Nadda meets Governor Rajendra Arlekar ahead of swearing-in ceremony

4:41 PM

Nitish Kumar joining NDA LIVE update: BJP Prez Nadda leaves from Patna airport to attend swearing-in ceremony

4:39 PM

Jo hota hai ache ke liye hota hai; INDIA bloc is strong: Tejashwi Yadav on Nitish Kumar joining NDA

4:37 PM

Bihar is being criticised across India because of Nitish Kumar: Congress state Prez Akhilesh Singh

4:31 PM

AAP to contest all 90 Assemblies in Haryana alone but LS polls will be fought as part of INDIA bloc: Kejriwal

AAP will contest all 90 Assembly seats on its own in Haryana, but 2024 LS polls will be fought as part of INDIA bloc, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at a rally in Jind.

4:19 PM

Bihar politics LIVE news: Nitish Kumar should be honoured with 'Girgit Ratna', says RJD's Tej Pratap Yadav

Nitish Kumar should be honoured with 'Girgit' (Chameleon) Ratna award for frequently changing his political loyalty, RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav said on Sunday. Kumar on Sunday resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar, saying "things were not working well" for him in the Mahagathbandhan and the opposition bloc INDIA, and staked claim to form a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago. "Chameleon is infamous for changing their skin ...Paltis Kumar should also be honoured with Chameleon Ratna award for frequently changing his political loyalty…for his speed of colour change", Yadav posted on X.

4:16 PM

Rumours spread about Bihar Congress MLAs should end now as all are united: CLP leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan

4:15 PM

Haven't seen opportunistic leader like Nitish; Bihar people will give right answer in 2024: Jairam Ramesh

4:04 PM

Nitish Kumar exits INDIA bloc: Posters stating 'Nitish sab ke hain' put up near CM residence in Patna