Opposition Parties

Bihar results: Poll body in line of fire amid recriminations in Oppn ranks

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha accused both the RJD and Congress for the loss

Bihar Assembly elections 2025: Key battles to watch out for as voting nears

Bihar Assembly elections 2025: The voting will take place on November 6 and November 11 for all 243 seats, with a tight contest expected between the NDA and Mahagathbandhan

INDIA bloc govt in Bihar will stop migration, oust BJP, says Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that if the INDIA bloc forms the government in Bihar under the leadership of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, it will check out-migration of people and force the BJP to migrate from the eastern state. Addressing a public rally in Chhapra district in support of RJD's singer-turned-politician candidate Khesari Lal Yadav, he said Bihar has always emerged as a saviour whenever clouds of danger overshadowed politics. The former chief minister of adjoining Uttar Pradesh urged people of Bihar to "safeguard politics from the dangers that surround it" through their votes. "When the new government headed by Tejashwi Yadav is formed in Bihar, it will check out-migration of common people and force the BJP to migrate from the state," he said. He exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will form the government in Bihar and the Samajwadi Party will emerge victorious in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. "Tejashwi Yadav's government will ...

'Tejashwi Pran': INDIA bloc promises jobs, free power in poll manifesto

The INDIA bloc's Bihar election manifesto promises jobs for every family, free electricity, revival of the old pension scheme, higher welfare payouts for women, and protection of minority rights

Waqf Act to be 'thrown into dustbin' if INDIA bloc wins Bihar: Tejashwi

If the INDIA bloc is voted to power in Bihar, the Waqf (Amendment) Act would be "thrown into the dustbin", the opposition coalition's CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav said on Sunday. Addressing a public rally in the Muslim-dominated Katihar district, Yadav said his father, Lalu Prasad, the RJD chief, never compromised with communal forces in the country. "But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has always supported such forces, and it is because of him that the RSS and its affiliates are spreading communal hatred in the state as well as in the country. The BJP should be called 'Bharat Jalao Party'. If the INDIA bloc comes to power in the state, we will throw the Waqf Act into the dustbin," he said. The Waqf (Amendment) Act was passed by Parliament in April. The ruling BJP-led NDA has described the law as a force for transparency and empowerment of backward Muslims and women from the community, but the opposition claimed that it infringes on the rights of Muslims. On Saturday, RJD MLC Mohammad Q

Bihar opposition likely to finalise seat-sharing, announce joint manifesto

The opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' alliance in Bihar is likely to finalise its seat-sharing in the next few days and may announce its candidates along with a joint manifesto this week. Top sources said talks between the RJD and Congress are underway, and their leadership may meet on Monday as RJD's Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav are in the national capital. "The Congress president has been speaking to all the coalition partners in Bihar, and the final discussion is on for deciding candidates in a few seats where the Congress and some other parties feel they are strong. The Congress president is talking to all political leaders for the last two days in Bihar," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said. He said the talks between the leaderships of RJD and Congress are also on and the leaders of the two main parties may also meet by Monday. On the delay in seat-sharing announcement, Ramesh said, "We have to adjust some new partners in the 'Mahagathbandhan' and we have to adjust th

Radhakrishnan vs Reddy: MPs set to elect India's next Vice President

The NDA has a clear majority in the vice presidential election with 425 MPs, while opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy banks on cross-voting amid YSRCP and fence-sitters

Oppn-ruled states meet ahead of GST Council, seek revenue loss compensation

Finance ministers of opposition-ruled states on Wednesday met ahead of the crucial GST Council meeting, and decided to seek compensation for revenue loss incurred by all states following the implementation of GST rate rejig. Eight opposition-ruled states -- Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal-- had met last week to decide on how their revenues could be protected once the 12 and 28 per cent slabs are removed. Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said his state will suffer a Rs 2,000 crore revenue loss if the Centre's GST reform proposal of reducing the number of slabs is implemented. "If the Centre agrees to compensate us for whatever loss we would incur, turn we have no issues in approving the agenda before the Council. I don't think the issue will come up for voting, as in a federal structure, it is the responsibility of the Centre to compensate states for revenue loss," Kishore told reporters here after the ...

March marking culmination of 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' begins in Bihar

The Congress' 14-day, 1,300-km-long 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' will conclude in Bihar's capital Patna on Monday, with several INDIA bloc leaders scheduled to join Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in a procession marking the culmination of the political programme that gained significance ahead of the assembly polls in the state. Among those scheduled to participate in the 'Gandhi se Ambedkar' march are Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI general secretary D Raja, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, NCP working president Supriya Sule, and TMC leaders Yusuf Pathan and Lalitesh Tripathi. "The massive 'Gandhi se Ambedkar' procession will start at 11.15 am from the historic Gandhi Maidan, where floral tributes will be offered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. After that, the procession will pass throug

GST rate reforms: Oppn-ruled states call for additional levy for 5 yrs

At a consultative meeting in the capital, ahead of the GST Council's meeting on September 3-4, these states supported the Centre's proposal for rationalisation

Oppn states demand compensation for revenue loss due to GST reform proposal

Opposition-ruled states on Friday said the Centre's proposal for GST rate rejig could result in a revenue loss of about Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 lakh crore and demanded compensation for the losses incurred by them. Finance ministers from eight states -- Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal -- decided to present their proposal to the GST Council at the next meeting on September 3 and 4. Their proposal for balancing rate rationalisation and revenue neutrality suggests levying an additional duty on sin and luxury goods in addition to the proposed 40 per cent rate to maintain the current tax incidence. The proceeds from this levy should be distributed among states, the opposition-ruled states demanded. Briefing reporters after a meeting of the eight states, Karnataka Finance Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said each state is expected to lose 15-20 per cent from its current Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue. "The 20 per cent GST reven

Mahagathbandhan to decide Bihar CM face, RJD has legitimate claim: SP MP

Samajwadi Party MP from Azamgarh, Dharmendra Yadav, has said the opposition's grand alliance in Bihar will decide its chief ministerial face for the upcoming assembly polls and acknowledged the RJD, being the principal party of the grouping, has a legitimate claim. His remarks came as the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of being "arrogant" after he parried a media query on why the Congress has not yet made it clear that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav would be the opposition grand alliance's chief minister face in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. Tejashwi Yadav was seated by Gandhi's side when he was asked about the Congress' reluctance to declare the RJD leader as the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate. He had recently made an open pitch for making Gandhi the prime minister after the next Lok Sabha polls. Speaking to reporters late on Sunday night, Dharmendra Yadav said, "The Mahagathbandhan will decide on the chief ministerial face in Bihar. "Everyone knows which party is dominan

Dhankhar resigned due to health reasons, no need to stretch it: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned due to health concerns and cautioned against speculating further

Meet Sudershan Reddy, former SC judge now Opposition's vice president pick

Opposition alliance names former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its vice-presidential candidate against NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan. Election is scheduled for September 9

INDIA bloc leaders likely to discuss joint VP candidate on Monday

The opposition INDIA bloc leaders are likely to discuss their joint candidate for the post of vice-president at a meeting of floor leaders on Monday morning. Sources said the INDIA bloc leaders would meet at the office of Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, at 10.15 am on Monday. The meeting will be held a day after the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan as its nominee for the post of vice-president, the second-highest constitution position in the country. Radhakrishnan hails from Tamil Nadu, which will go to polls in 2026. While the ruling BJP feels that the nomination of Radhakrishnan, a seasoned BJP leader with an RSS background, will elicit support from the wider opposition, especially the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, it remains to be seen what stand the opposition parties take on Monday. BJP president J P Nadda, while announcing the nomination of Radhakrishnan after a meeting of the party's ...

Centre running away from issues raised by Opposition: TMC's Derek O'Brien

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha Leader Derek O'Brien on Sunday accused the Centre of "running away" from issues raised by the Opposition, and alleged that it would continue to "mock" Parliament for the remaining Monsoon session. The remarks came in a post on X, as Parliament is set to resume on Monday, after a short break on account of Independence Day and other festivals. "Skittish Modi coalition keeps running away every Session from discussing issues of urgent national importance raised by Opposition," the TMC leader said. "Prediction: for last four days of this Session, government will continue to mock Parliament," he said. "This is Parliament, not Mann Ki Baat," he added, jibing at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio broadcast. On the Election Commission, the TMC leader told PTI, "The institution is working hard to firmly establish itself as the branch office of the BJP." All Opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revisio

EC stands 'thoroughly exposed' for incompetence, partisanship: Cong

The Congress on Sunday alleged that the Election Commission stood "thoroughly exposed" not only for its "incompetence" but also for its "blatant partisanship" after the poll body hit out at the opposition party for its "vote chori" charges. The Congress also termed as "laughable" the claims made by the EC that it makes no distinction between the ruling party and the Opposition. Soon after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two election commissioners addressed a press conference over the Congress' charges, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked whether the poll body will implement the Supreme Court's August 14 orders in letter and spirit. "Today, a short while after Shri Rahul Gandhi launched the INDIA janbandhan's Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, the CEC and his two ECs began by saying they make no distinction between the ruling party and the opposition. "This is laughable, to put it very mildly, in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary. Notably, th

EC rejects voter data fudging charge, says parties missed scrutiny window

Seeking to counter opposition parties' allegations of fudging in voter data, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday said it seems that some political parties did not examine the electoral rolls at the "appropriate time" to point out errors to the poll machinery and noted that it welcomes a scrutiny of the document to help its officials remove flaws. In a statement, the EC said the period for raising claims and objections after the draft voters' list is published is the appropriate time for parties to flag flaws. "It seems that some political parties and their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) did not examine the electoral rolls at the appropriate time and did not point out errors, if any...," it said. It noted that recently, some political parties and individuals raised issues about errors in the electoral rolls, including the electoral rolls prepared in the past. The appropriate time, it said, to raise any issue with the electoral rolls would have been during the "Claims and Objections"

Cong, Oppn protests part of plan to create instability in country: BJP

The BJP on Monday slammed opposition parties over their protest against the voter roll revision in Bihar and alleged vote theft in past elections, accusing them of trying to create anarchy in the country. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegation of vote theft against the ruling BJP and the Election Commission a lie and said the Congress has been resorting to such tactics as it has no other issues to raise. He alleged that the opposition's protest is a well thought out strategy to create instability in the country. Congress and other opposition parties want to create anarchy in the country, Pradhan charged. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, is speaking the language of those big forces who want to destroy democracy in India, he charged. Pradhan alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties are raising questions on the poll process and voter roll revision in Bih

Rahul Gandhi detained during Opposition march to EC protesting Bihar SIR

During the Opposition's protest march to the Election Commission over Bihar's voter rolls stopped by police, Rahul Gandhi and several leaders were detained