Almost 99.8 per cent of Bihar electors have been covered so far under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an ECI official said on Friday.

“Forms of 7.23 crore electors have been received and digitised, and names of all these electors will be included in the Draft Electoral Roll. The digitisation of forms, along with BLO reports, of the remaining electors will also be completed by August 1,” said the official.

The Election Commission of India, in a statement, said the lists of those electors who have not filled the enumeration forms or are deceased and those who have permanently migrated have already been shared on July 20 with all 12 political parties – which have collectively nominated 1,60,813 BLAs – so that errors, if any, can be rectified in the Draft Electoral Roll to be published on August 1.

The parties which have been given the lists of electors who have not filled the forms or are deceased and those who have permanently migrated, include the Congress, which has nominated 17,549 booth-level agents (BLAs) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal with 47,506 BLAs. The other parties which have been given the lists include are: Bahujan Samaj Party; Bharatiya Janata Party; Communist Party of India (Marxist); Janata Dal (United); Rashtriya Lok Samta Party; Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) (Liberation); Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party; Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas); National People’s Party and Aam Aadmi Party. Sharing details of BLAs of some parties, the ECI said the BJP has nominated 53,338, Janata Dal (United) 36,550, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party 270, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party 1,913 and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) 1,210.

Since June 24, the local BLOs/BLAs have reported the following: Names of approximately 22 lakh deceased electors; approximately 7 lakh electors registered in more than one location; approximately 35 lakh electors have either permanently migrated or could not be traced, and enumeration forms of approximately 1.2 lakh electors are yet to be received, said the ECI. As per the SIR order, from August 1 to September 1, any elector or political party may fill the prescribed forms and submit claims to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for any eligible elector who is left out or file objections for removal of any ineligible elector, it said.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post 99.8% Bihar Electors Covered Under SIR: ECI appeared first on The Commune.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday expelled his son Tej Pratap Yadav from the party for six years over his “immoral and irresponsible behaviour” and for ‘not upholding the family’s values and traditions’.

The decision came a day after Tej Pratap shared a video on his Facebook page, where he declared that he had been in a relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav for the past 12 years. His revelation on ‘love affair’ with a woman even during the tenure of his marriage with Aishwarya in 2018, triggered a flurry of political reactions, with many parties taking potshots at the RJD chief.

Lalu Yadav announced the decision to expel Tej Pratap with a post on X, “Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour of the eldest son are not in accordance with our family values and traditions. Therefore, due to the above circumstances, I removed him from the party and family. From now on, he will not have any role of any kind in the party and family.”

He further wrote, “Tej Pratap has been expelled for six years. All those who will have relations with him should make their own decisions. I have always been an advocate of propriety in public life. The obedient members of the family have adopted and followed this idea in public life,” Lalu said further in X post.

Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap’s brother and former Bihar Deputy CM, also confirmed snapping ties with him. “I have no relation with Tej Pratap now. RJD President Lalu Yadav has made a decision and also put it in the public domain. Whatever he does in personal life, it remains his personal decision. He doesn’t take advice or permission from anyone regarding his personal life,” he said.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Lalu Prasad Yadav Expels Son Tej Pratap From RJD For Six Years For ‘Immoral Behaviour’ appeared first on The Commune.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ramped up preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections with a crucial State Council meeting scheduled on Tuesday at Bapu Auditorium in Patna.

Dilip Jaiswal is set to be formally appointed as the Bihar BJP state president. The meeting will see the participation of BJP leaders and workers to strategize for the elections.

Several important decisions related to the party’s election campaign and leadership are expected. Jaiswal has filed his nomination for the post and is expected to take charge officially later in the day. His nomination papers were submitted on Monday in front of the Election Officer and the BJP State General Secretary Rajesh Verma.

His proposers included Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, Minister Mangal Pandey, and Legislative Councillor Sanjay Mayukh. Notably, no other candidates filed nominations, making his appointment a certainty. Union Energy Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is the chief observer of the event.

Besides him, Bihar BJP in-Charge Vinod Tawde, Co-in-Charge Deepak Prakash, Ministers from Bihar and the Central government, BJP state officials and district presidents, block presidents and others will attend the meeting. Over 6,000 members, including divisional presidents, state officials, and working committee members, are expected to participate. The State Council meeting is being held just after the recent cabinet expansion, indicating the BJP’s aggressive election preparations.

Dilip Jaiswal is currently a Bihar Legislative Council member, he has been associated with the BJP for a long time. He was appointed Bihar’s BJP state president on July 25, 2024, replacing Samrat Chaudhary.

He previously served as Revenue and Land Reforms Minister in the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government and resigned from his ministerial post ahead of the cabinet expansion to focus on party leadership. His appointment is seen as a crucial move by the BJP ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

The meeting will likely discuss the BJP’s election strategy and campaign roadmap. With the Delhi elections concluded, the BJP is shifting its focus entirely on strengthening its presence in Bihar for the Assembly polls.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post BJP Gears Up For Bihar Assembly Polls, Dilip Jaiswal To Be New State Chief appeared first on The Commune.

In the high-stakes battle for Bihar by-polls, the Mahagathbandhan of Congress and RJD suffered defeat in all four assembly constituencies.

After the counting concluded, the poll officials declared the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) victorious in all four constituencies – Ramgarh, Tarari, Imamganj, and Belaganj. In Belaganj, JD(U)’s Manorama Devi secured a decisive win over RJD’s Vishwanath Kumar Singh by a margin of 21,391 votes, breaking RJD’s three-decade-long grip on the seat.

This victory came as significant blow to the RJD, which had held the seat since the 1990s. Meanwhile, in Tarari, the BJP celebrated a historic win, marking its first-ever victory in this constituency. Vishal Prashant, son of powerful leader Sunil Pandey, triumphed over CPI(ML)’s Raju Yadav by 10,612 votes.

The contest in Imamganj saw Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s daughter-in-law, Deepa Manjhi, continuing the family’s political legacy by defeating RJD’s Roshan Manjhi by 5,945 votes. Jan Suraj’s candidate, Jitendra Paswan, finished third, securing 37,103 votes. Ramgarh witnessed a nail-biting race, where BJP’s Ashok Singh edged out BSP’s Satish alias Pintu Yadav by just 1,362 votes.

The contest was particularly tense as RJD’s Ajit Singh, son of state president Jagdanand Singh and brother of MP Sudhakar Singh, came third, leaving the counting hall midway in disappointment. These by-elections, which took place on November 13, are seen as a semi-final ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

With 38 candidates’ reputations at stake, the results have dealt a blow to the opposition INDIA alliance, led by the RJD. The biggest blow for the INDIA bloc came in Belaganj, where they lost a seat that had been a bastion of their power for over 30 years, signalling a shift in the political landscape of Bihar. In the recently held Assembly by-polls, the average voter turnout stood at 52.84 per cent with no incidents of disturbance or violence.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Bihar Bypolls: NDA Bags All Four Seats, Mahagathbandhan Suffers Big Defeat appeared first on The Commune.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan has claimed that his uncle and former Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras was never part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Chirag’s statement comes in response to Pashupati Kumar Paras’s announcement during a meeting of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) in Patna, where Paras declared his intention to contest the 2025 Bihar assembly elections independently.

When questioned about Paras’s recent statements, Chirag clarified: “My uncle was never in the NDA alliance, neither during the Lok Sabha elections nor the Assembly elections. So, how can he talk about separation from an alliance he was never part of?” Pashupati Kumar Paras, who served as a Union Minister during the second tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, has maintained that RLJP is aligned with the NDA. However, the BJP did not allocate any seats to the RLJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Paras keeps saying that his party is part of the NDA. At the RLJP meeting in Patna, Paras was joined by key party leaders, including former Samastipur MP and Suraj Bhan Singh. Paras and his supporters resolved to strengthen the RLJP at the grassroots level ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, declaring their intention to contest independently.

Shravan Aggarwal, a close associate of Paras, targeted Chirag Paswan during the meeting, asserting that Paras is the true successor of Ram Vilas Paswan, the founder of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). The feud between Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Kumar Paras has caused significant political rifts since the split of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) after Ram Vilas Paswan’s death. The LJP was divided into Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), led by Pashupati Kumar Paras. Chirag has emerged as a prominent NDA ally, especially during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while Paras continues to assert his political presence independently.

This ongoing rivalry reflects the complexities of Bihar’s political landscape, especially within the Paswan family. Chirag Paswan, also expressed confidence in the Exit Polls for the Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly elections, stating that they accurately reflect the public’s mood. “The NDA family is growing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I campaigned in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, and on November 20, the public voted overwhelmingly in favour of the NDA. We are on track to form governments in both states,” Paswan said.

When asked about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar distributing appointment letters to teachers and the RJD’s claim that they initiated employment initiatives, Chirag dismissed the opposition’s statements. “RJD leaders often make such claims. If they had any real strategy for providing employment, Lalu Yadav’s regime would not be remembered as Jungle Raj. During that time, Bihar saw the highest levels of migration. The people of Bihar are well aware of who can truly lead the state forward,” Paswan said.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Pashupati Kumar Paras Was Never Part Of NDA: Chirag Paswan appeared first on The Commune.

An alleged religious conversion in Sihra Panchayat in Bihar’s East Champaran district has sparked controversy and raised concerns among the local population. The locals claim that Christian missionaries are allegedly targeting Dalits and marginalised communities for conversion under the guise of prayers and educational initiatives. They alleged that a Christian missionary school has been established, with activities allegedly focusing on influencing Dalits and economically weaker sections of the community across dozens of villages including Madhuban, Chaita, Katas, Majhar, Bahuara, Rajepur, Tetaria of the subdivision in the subdivision.

They also claimed that individuals are being persuaded under the pretext of prayers and gatherings, particularly on Sundays. Women and children are reportedly transported to a local church in tempos, a practice that has recently increased in frequency. The involvement of Upendra Yadav, a local doctor who converted to Christianity, is also facing allegations of having donated land to a church and facilitated conversions among his family and others. The locals claim that approximately 20-25 people from Sihra Panchayat and over 500 individuals in the Pakadidayal subdivision have converted to Christianity. “The missionaries target Dalit and backward women by offering inducements, taking advantage of the socio-economic vulnerabilities of these communities,” said Chandan Kumar, a villager.

Ganesha Ram from Etawa village in Sirha Panchayat recently reconverted to Hinduism after previously embracing Christianity. He stated that his decision to leave Christianity and return to Hinduism was influenced by his family’s insistence and his own choice. Arvind Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Pakadidayal told IANS that a police team had been dispatched to investigate the matter. “Any cases of conversion in the area would be dealt with strictly, and appropriate action would be taken against those involved,” he said.

Religious conversions have been a recurring issue in Bihar, with several similar incidents reported over time. One recent case in Buxar involved allegations of Hindu women being converted to Christianity, reportedly marked by the symbolic act of washing off their vermilion in the Ganges River.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Bihar: Religious Conversion In East Champaran Sparks Controversy appeared first on The Commune.

The ongoing exchange of political barbs between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar has intensified after RJD leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav criticised BJP’s Hindu Swabhiman Yatra which Union Minister Giriraj Singh led. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha responded to the criticisms by accusing Lalu and Tejashwi of creating divisions in society and stoking fear among the Muslim community.

“RJD leadership often spreads the narrative that Muslims’ existence in India is under threat unless they support the RJD in elections. I want to ask Lalu Prasad Yadav to remember communal riots in Bhagalpur and the incident of Biharsharif,” Sinha said. He claimed that these incidents happened due to the policies of Lalu Prasad Yadav when he was in power. The Deputy Chief Minister praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that his governance, which follows the vision of the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has ensured peace and harmony in the state. Sinha’s remarks reflect the broader political tensions in Bihar, where communal harmony and the state’s political history are frequently invoked during electoral discourse. Both the BJP and the RJD have long been at odds over issues of caste, religion, and governance, with each party accusing the other of disrupting the social fabric for political gain.

The political discourse in Bihar has intensified, with Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav targeting the ruling alliance, particularly over the Hindu Swabhiman Yatra. Lalu Prasad Yadav criticised Union Minister Giriraj Singh for allegedly fostering hatred in society, calling him “habitual” in spreading communal discord. He also accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of being a “silent spectator” to these divisive tactics, suggesting that the Chief Minister and Union Minister share a similar governance style.

Tejashwi Yadav also warned that if communal violence erupts in Bihar, Nitish Kumar would be responsible. He also condemned the remarks made by BJP’s Araria MP Pradeep Kumar Singh, who controversially stated that people must “become Hindu” to stay in Araria. Tejashwi said that these provocative statements are reflective of a broader strategy by the BJP to incite communal tensions. Giriraj Singh, in response to these accusations, said that Lalu and Tejashwi Yadav are making such statements to protect Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingya Muslims.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Lalu Prasad Yadav & Tejashwi Yadav Are Dividing Society: Bihar Dy CM appeared first on The Commune.

Feature Image Credits: ETV Bharat

A Bangladeshi citizen, identified as Babu Joe Barua alias Rajiv Dutta, was arrested at the Gaya Airport in Bihar, an official said. Barua has been living in India illegally for the past eight years, posing as a Buddhist monk and residing in a monastery in Gaya. He was detained by airport security while attempting to board a flight to Thailand on Friday.

Upon investigation, authorities found that he was living without a valid passport or visa and had been using fake documents. A lookout circular had also been issued against him earlier.

He was handed over to the Magadh Medical Police Station Gaya for further action. “A Bangladeshi national was living in Bihar’s Gaya district for eight years without a visa or passport.

He was trying to escape to Thailand from Gaya International Airport. The documents recovered from him are fake. He has been arrested from Gaya Airport,” said Ashish Bharti, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Gaya.

The Bangladeshi citizen was attempting to travel to Thailand on an Indian passport (X 7037848) aboard flight TG 327. His suspicious behaviour during an inspection by the Aviation Security Group led to further interrogation, during which he revealed that he had been living in Gaya as a Buddhist monk for the past eight years and is, in fact, a Bangladeshi citizen.

Upon his arrest, authorities found multiple passports with different names, as well as a variety of documents, including an Aadhaar card and a PAN card.

Additionally, foreign currencies, including 1560 Thai Baht, 5 Euros, 411 US dollars, and Rs 3,800 in Indian currency, were recovered from him. The investigation has uncovered that he had been using passports under false identities. The accused has been charged under sections 318(4), 336(3), and 340(2) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahita (BNS) and the Indian Passport Act 12 at the Magadh Medical Police Station, where further investigation is ongoing.

–IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Bangladeshi National Living As Monk In India Arrested In Bihar appeared first on The Commune.

Political strategist Prashant Kishor launched his new political party, Jan Suraaj party, on Wednesday with ‘humanity’ as the ‘main ideology’ and quality education as the ‘supreme goal’. Addressing a large gathering, he noted that people had been curious about when his ‘Jan Suraaj’ campaign would officially form a political party. With the Election Commission’s recognition of Jan Suraaj as an official party, he took the opportunity to present his vision for Bihar’s future.

Prashant Kishor said, “This party is a collective movement, representing all communities – Dalits, backward classes, Hindus, and Muslims.” He claimed that the gathering signifies the commitment of people from every background to develop a state that had been neglected by traditional political forces. “People gathered here are focused on restoring the historic pride of Bihar,” he added. He addressed a key question on the party’s ideology, stating that “humanity” will be the core principle, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and B.R. Ambedkar. “’Humanity First’ is Jan Suraaj’s guiding philosophy,” he said.

Prashant Kishor also emphasised that the goal is to see Bihar so developed that people from states like Haryana and Gujarat come to Bihar seeking employment. He also questioned the current state of Bihar’s leadership, saying, “What is the way forward? Leaders come here and demean each other without any blueprint for Bihar’s development.” He shared his experience of travelling during the Jan Suraaj campaign, creating awareness among people to choose leaders who would work for the future of their children. “Jan Suraaj’s top priority will be on quality education for children,” he said. He urged people to think about their children’s future, stating, “How many times have you voted for the education and employment of your children? Education quality and employment were never prioritised in Bihar because you never voted for these things.” He alleged that the people, for the greed of 5 kg of cereals, voted for PM Modi. “Loot was done, but cereals were given. The Ayodhya Mandir was built, but no factories or hospitals were built in Bihar,” he said.

He said that many people voted for Lalu Yadav, and during his reign, there were no roadways, electricity, or water. ‘The poor and backward communities were promised progress and respect. Did they get it? Yes, but were their basic needs fulfilled,” he said. He further acknowledged that under Nitish Kumar’s reign, electricity reached every village, though citizens now face issues with smart meters. He also noted that many people voted for PM Modi, seeing the work he did in Gujarat, where he established factories by leveraging funds from across the world. “Biharis are working in these factories, but what matters is the reason for which you vote,” Prashant Kishor added. Kishor asserted that his focus is not just on rhetoric but on actionable plans: “I am not just speaking about development; I am discussing the strategy as well.” He reminded the audience that when people voted for a temple, it was built. When they voted for electricity, it came. “But none of you voted for the education of your children, and that is why no one provided it to Bihar.” His key question to the people was: “Do you care about the future of your children or not? According to scholars, only through education, land, and wealth can poverty be eliminated.”

He pointed out that Bihar lacks all three: “If you look clearly, Bihar has none of these. In the name of education, children go to school for khichdi (mid-day meals) and then leave. In colleges, degrees are being sold for money. Bihar needs quality education, and Jan Suraaj will invest in and prioritise improving education.” Prashant Kishor proposed a significant investment plan to improve Bihar’s education system: “If Bihar’s education is to improve, ₹5 lakh crore is required over the next 10 years. If we lift the ban on alcohol, it will generate revenue that can be used to build the education system, instead of filling the pockets of politicians.”

“Jan Suraaj is not just daydreaming but showing you the way with a blueprint, and we will make Bihar a state with quality education. When education is promoted, it will lead to many other developments,” he added.

–IANS

Subscribe to our Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram channels and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Prashant Kishor Launches Jan Suraaj Party, Sets ‘Humanity’ Its Core Ideology appeared first on The Commune.

The post 15-Year-Old Boy Stabbed To Death In Bihar, Main Culprit Taif Khan Absconding appeared first on The Commune.