Page 11 - Nitish Kumar

BPSC exam stalemate continues as protesting students reject offer for talks

The row over the alleged Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) question paper leak seemed to be heading for an impasse with protesting students on Saturday rejecting the Patna district administration's offer for talks with authorities in the commission and insisting on an appointment with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In hardening of stance, Patna District Magistrate (DM) Chandrasekhar Singh also said he would not allow the 'Chatra Sansad' (students' congregation), called by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday and warned of action against coaching institute owners who were found to be involved, in any manner, in the protests henceforth. Kishor on Saturday went to Gardani Bagh where BPSC aspirants have been staging a dharna for the last several days. Addressing the protesters, Kishor said, "Before coming here, I had a long discussion with people from the education field. I must say that irregularities and paper leaks have now become the norm as far as BPSC exams are concerne

From LS polls surprise to NEET protest: Key political events in 2024

From political continuity - and shifts - to landmark ceremonies, 2024 saw power struggles, protests, and symbolic moments

Prashant Kishor gives ultimatum to Bihar govt, vows to lead BPSC protest

Prashant Kishor flayed the recent police lathi-charge on protesting students and called upon the NDA government to take urgent steps

NDA leaders meet at BJP chief's residence to discuss political strategy

Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) met here at BJP president J P Nadda's residence on Wednesday on the birth centenary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, JD-U leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union minister H D Kumaraswamy, were present at the meeting. Bihar's Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, also a minister in the Modi government, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, were also present at the meeting. Though there was no official word on the agenda of the meeting, sources said good governance and political issues were discussed. Good governance was a key theme of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. It was decided to hold

Giriraj Singh seeks Bharat Ratna for Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik

Union minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, should be conferred upon Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former CM of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik. The outspoken BJP leader expressed the sentiment in Begusarai, his Lok Sabha constituency, lavishing praise on Kumar, a current ally, and Patnaik, a former alliance partner whom the saffron party ousted from power earlier this year. "Bihar was known for decrepit roads, schools and buildings until the ascent to power of Nitish Kumar, who took the state to new heights. Likewise, Naveen Patnaik served Odisha for so many years. Leaders like them deserve the highest honour, like Bharat Ratna," he said. Widely perceived as a detractor of Kumar in Bihar's political circles, Singh also asserted that "mischief" of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad notwithstanding, the NDA was looking forward to contesting the upcoming assembly polls under the JD(U) supremo's leadership. Notably, the averment comes in the backdrop

CM Nitish Kumar launches projects worth Rs 200 cr in East Champaran

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a host of developmental projects worth Rs 201.12 crore in East Champaran district. Kumar, during the second day of his Pragati Yatra', visited Sundarpur village under the Kesaria assembly seat and virtually laid the foundation stones for the schemes. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), He inaugurated the newly constructed building of a government school in Sundarpur. Kumar also handed over the management of a pond constructed under the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali scheme to JEEViKA Didis' (women associated with self-help groups under the JEEViKA project). He distributed symbolic cheques of financial assistance of Rs 3.35 crore to 1,26,354 JEEViKA Didis'. The chief minister directed officials concerned for immediate construction of two bridges over the Dhanauti river in Majuraha and Budhi Gandak in Ibrahimpur area, respectively, in the district. Besides, he asked offici

Nitish's manoeuvering alters Bihar's political scene ahead of 2025 polls

Upheaval jolted Bihar just weeks into 2024, as Nitish Kumar, the state's longest-serving chief minister, made yet another dramatic volte-face to realign with his old ally, the BJP. The septuagenarian, renowned for his uncanny ability to shift political allegiances at will while maintaining his grip on power, abandoned the INDIA bloc he had diligently helped form, relinquishing his hopes of securing a "national role" in politics. This unexpected move sent shockwaves through the political landscape, signalling yet another twist in Kumar's ever-changing political journey. Perhaps sensing in advance that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be diminished but not vanquished, Kumar agreed to be an ally on whose support BJP now depends for survival in power at the Centre. In the bargain, the 73-year-old leader has earned the backing of the BJP and all its junior allies in the state where assembly polls are due in 2025. Kumar enjoys the clout even though skeptics such as political ...

NDA to contest 2025 Bihar polls under Nitish, PM Modi: Deputy CM Choudhary

The NDA will contest the assembly polls in Bihar next year under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said on Sunday. "There is no confusion," he said during a press conference at the BJP headquarters when asked to comment on speculation that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could do a rethink on projecting Kumar as its leader in the polls. He was responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked if the NDA could go to the polls in Bihar without declaring a chief ministerial candidate, like it recently did with great success in Maharashtra. Shah, a former BJP president who is still regarded as the party's principal strategist, had replied after a pause, "We will sit together and decide. We will let you know after we have made a decision." The cryptic response had led to furious speculation that the BJP could insist on not ...

NDA leaders back CM Nitish Kumar as face for upcoming Bihar elections

The ruling NDA in Bihar on Friday dismissed speculations that the coalition could do a rethink on projecting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as its leader in the assembly polls due next year. Speaking to the media after a meeting held here to bring about better coordination at the grassroots level, state presidents of parties like the BJP, Kumar's JD(U) and Union minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) also rubbished suggestions triggered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement. Dilip Jaiswal, state minister and Bihar BJP chief said, "We should understand that Amit Shah was trying to underscore that he was a karyakarta' (worker) of a party in which big decisions are taken by the parliamentary board". "But, the leadership role of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had been a given for long. There is no question of going back on that, asserted Jaiswal. He was responding to Shah's recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked whether the NDA could go to po

JDU leaders accuse Kejriwal of sidelining Dalits, backward classes

The Janata Dal (United) on Friday accused Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal of not giving representation to Dalits and backward classes, and said a leader tainted with corruption charges has no right to give suggestions to someone like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The attack on the former Delhi chief minister from two key JD(U) leaders, Union minister Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha, came a day after Kejriwal wrote a letter to Kumar asking him to "deeply reflect" on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's alleged insulting comments for B R Ambedkar. Kejriwal had written a similar letter to another key BJP ally, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Jha responded to the AAP leader by writing he did not send a single leader from the Dalit and backward castes to the Rajya Sabha and accusing him of backtracking on his promise of picking a Dalit deputy chief minister in Punjab. Jha asked if the AAP leader could not find anyone from these classes to replace him as Delhi chief

Nitish to lead NDA in 2025 Bihar Assembly polls: BJP's state chief

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal on Wednesday asserted that the NDA will contest the 2025 assembly polls in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He also rejected speculations triggered by a recent remark of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in response to a query about Kumar, who heads the JD(U). In an interview with a private news channel, Shah, who is a former BJP president, had evaded a direct reply when he was asked whether the NDA would adopt in Bihar a strategy similar to that in Maharashtra where it went to polls without declaring a chief ministerial candidate and got a landslide victory. Shah, who is widely regarded as the second-most powerful person in the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had replied after a pause, "We will sit together and decide on the issue. Once we take a decision, we will let you know." The equivocal reply has led to speculations in political circles here about the fate of Kumar, who is in his 70s, has been at the helm fo

Parties take yatra route in Bihar as politicians gear up for Assembly polls

While CM Nitish Kumar is seeking to consolidate his party's woman vote base, Tejashwi Yadav is trying an image makeover for the RJD

Nitish condoles 2 Bihar workers' deaths in Manipur, announces ex gratia

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday expressed grief over the killing of two migrant workers from the state in Manipur's Kakching district, and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for family members of the deceased. Sunalal Kumar (18) and Dashrat Kumar (17), residents of Gopalganj district, were shot dead on Saturday evening. They were construction workers and lived in a rented accommodation in Kakching. The CM has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of two migrant workers from the state in Manipur's Kakching district. Heartfelt condolences to their family, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. He has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the immediate family members of the deceased... (he) also directed officials of the state's social welfare and labour departments to ensure that the family members get other benefits, too, as per existing provisions, it said.

PSC question paper leaks 'state-sponsored', alleges Tejashwi Yadav

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has charged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with "maintaining silence" over alleged irregularities in a PSC examination, claiming that recent question paper "leaks" in such competitive tests were "state-sponsored". In a video statement late on Friday, the leader of the opposition in the assembly also accused Kumar of failing to communicate with job aspirants who staged protests over the alleged paper leak in the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission. Kumar's "reluctance to communicate with students who were baton-charged by the police and slapped by Patna district magistrate" showed that the JD(U) supremo is a "tired man and unable to govern Bihar", Tejashwi claimed. "This government has failed in conducting any examination in the state without paper leaks ...whether it is for class 10th, 12th, police constable recruitment exams or BPSC tests, questions papers are leaked before the ...

Lalu Prasad's 'ogle women' remark about CM Nitish Kumar sparks outrage

BJP and JD(U) leaders have called RJD President Lalu Prasad's remark offensive and derogatory to women, as well as an insult to Bihar's dignity

Tejashwi Yadav accuses Bihar CM of 'misusing public funds' for propaganda

The RJD leader questioned the government's priorities, stating that billions of rupees are being spent on propaganda

Bihar govt increases monetary reward for winners of gallantry awards

The Bihar government has increased the monetary reward for gallantry award winners, and those winning Param Vir Chakra from the state will now be given Rs 1 crore instead of the previous Rs 10 lakh, an official said on Saturday. The Param Vir Chakra is India's top military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. The state government also hiked the reward amount for Ashok Chakra awardees from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, for Mahaveer Chakra from Rs 5 lakh to 50 lakh, for Kirti Chakra from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, for Veera Chakra from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 9 lakh, and for Shaurya Chakra from Rs 1.5 lakh to 8 lakh, according to a notification. The Army, Navy or Air Force Medal winners will get Rs 7 lakh instead of the current Rs 75,000 and in Mention in Dispatches cases, the reward was increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 6 lakh, the notification said. Talking to PTI, Home Secretary Arvind Kumar Chaudhary said, The state government is ...

Oppn MLAs protest outside Bihar Assembly for withdrawal of pre-paid meters

A raucous protest was held outside the Bihar assembly on Thursday by opposition members who demanded withdrawal of pre-paid electricity meters, citing that this arrangement causes inconvenience to common people. Leaders belonging to the RJD, the Congress and three Left parties stood in front of the portico, waving placards and raising slogans until the bell rang announcing that it was time for commencement of the day's proceedings. Some of the placards had the picture of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with colourful slogans like 'it is not a smart meter but a smart cheater'. Some other placards highlighted inflated billing and disconnection without warning, the two most common gripes against the new electricity meters. Before dispersing, the MLAs vowed to continue with their protest and claimed that smart meters have made the government in the state hugely "unpopular" and would cause its "defeat in assembly polls" due next year. The government, however, maintained that pre-paid meter

'Bihar is a failed state': Prashant Kishor to Bihari diaspora in the US

Speaking virtually to the Bihari diaspora after inaugurating the US chapter of Jan Suraaj, the former Kishore expressed confidence in his party's chances of winning the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections

Khelo India Youth Games 2025 to be held in Bihar: Mansukh Mandaviya

Bihar government has also started developing sports infrastructure in line with the Khelo India campaign, he added