Articles by Daily Pioneer

Politics

Pioneer in short

Congress to go solo in BMC A day after the INDIA bloc’s poor showing in Bihar Assembly polls, the Congress announced it will contest all 227 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seats independently, bypassing its alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) and other allies in the State. AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala cited party workers’ desire to go solo, while Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad emphasised Congress’ refusal to align with Raj Thackeray-led MNS, known for anti-North Indian migrant campaigns. The Congress-NCP (SP) alliance remains intact, though Sharad Pawar deferred local poll alliance decisions to district leaders. Trump plans BBC lawsuit US President Donald Trump has announced plans to sue the BBC for between $1 billion and $5 billion, despite the broadcaster apologising for editing his January 6, 2021, speech in its 2024 Panorama documentary. Trump claims the edit misrepresented his words, giving the false impression that he called for violence, and insists legal action is necessary to prevent similar misrepresentation in the future. The BBC acknowledged that the edits created a misleading impression and issued apologies from its Indian-origin chair Samir Shah, but it has ruled out financial compensation. The controversy over the documentary led to the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. While the BBC regrets the error, it maintains that there is no legal basis for a defamation claim. Jadeja spins India domination Ravindra Jadeja’s masterful spin bowling dominated the second day of the opening Test at Eden Gardens, leaving South Africa reeling at 93/7, chasing a lead of 63. Jadeja’s 4/27 in a 13-over spell dismantled the middle order, supported by Kuldeep Yadav (2/12) and Axar Patel (1/30), while Washington Sundar bowled minimally. The deteriorating track offered variable bounce and turn, amplifying the spinners’ effectiveness. Earlier, Jadeja contributed 27 with the bat, joining the elite club of 4,000 Test runs and 300 wickets. India’s lower-order collapse to 189, triggered by Simon Harmer and Marco Jansen, set the stage for a potential third-day finish. Stand-in captain Rishabh Pant orchestrated the spin attack brilliantly, recognizing the track’s demands. South African resistance, led by Temba Bavuma, appears unlikely to reach the 125 runs required to extend the match. Eden Gardens’ crumbling surface, coupled with India’s spin quartet, suggests the series opener may conclude rapidly, demonstrating the spinners’ decisive control over the game.

5 hours ago

Business

Lajpat Rai Market reopens

Shopkeepers at Lajpat Rai Market, which reopened on Saturday after remaining shut since the blast near the Red Fort earlier this week, said it may take several days for business and footfall to return to normal. Most shops had their shutters down after the explosion near the Red Fort on Monday, which killed 13 people and triggered heavy security restrictions in the area. Rakesh Kumar, who runs an electronics shop in the market, said he had reached the spot barely minutes before the incident. “I came here only two years ago, and that evening I was standing outside when three blasts happened. The first one sounded like a normal CNG cylinder burst, the kind we hear sometimes. But the second was so loud that it felt like the ground had split,” he said. He recalled seeing a fireball after the third blast. “It looked like the sun had suddenly risen outside. It must have been around 6.50 pm. At that moment, nearly a thousand people were inside the market,” he said. Kumar said the first reaction among the people nearby was one of pure confusion. “Somebody said a vehicle had caught fire, so people didn’t panic instantly. But then the police quickly blocked the route and asked everyone to move. If they had not managed the crowd, there could have been a stampede with so many people around,” he said. According to him, the first ambulance arrived within 15 minutes of the explosion. “Police were already present in small numbers, but they handled the situation well,” he added. For many traders, the reopening of the market has brought a mix of relief and uncertainty. “It will take time for things to become normal,” said Rajinder Singh, who owns a lighting shop, adding that tourists won’t come until the fear settles, and that even customers from Delhi are hesitant. Several shopkeepers said orders placed for the wedding season were either cancelled or postponed. “People are scared. Some clients shifted their functions to January or February. There is business loss, but more than that, there is nervousness among traders,” Singh said. With markets around the Red Fort slowly reopening, traders said they were hopeful that normal footfall would return once security agencies complete their investigation and the heat of the incident subsides. “We just want things to calm down. The market is open today, but the fear will take time to go away,” Kumar added.

5 hours ago

Entertainment

CCTV footage shows tremor inside Red Fort metro station during blast

A CCTV footage sourced from inside the Red Fort metro station offers a stark glimpse of the moments immediately before and after the car blast that killed 13 people and injured several others. The visuals extracted from internal surveillance cameras show routine commuter movement inside the station when a sudden, violent tremor shakes the premises at the precise moment the explosion occurred at the nearby traffic signal. Objects inside the station can be seen rattling, while passengers are visibly jolted as shock reverberates through the structure. The footage also shows some commuters instinctively rushing further inside the station, seeking safety as the impact of the explosion becomes apparent. Officials said investigators are examining the new visuals to better understand the intensity of the blast and its immediate effect on structures surrounding the Red Fort. The Lal Quila metro station has remained closed since the day of the incident. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been issuing daily updates. On Thursday, it announced that the station will remain shut until further notice, owing to the ongoing security review and investigation. Security agencies continue to analyse multiple CCTV inputs from the blast site, surrounding areas and the metro station to piece together a comprehensive sequence of events leading up to the detonation.

5 hours ago

Technology

CM unveils online portal for fire safety certificate renewal

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday inaugurated the Portal for Online Renewal of Fire Safety Certificate at the Delhi Secretariat in the presence of Delhi’s Home and Education Minister, Ashish Sood, and senior officials of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS). Developed jointly by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Delhi Government, the portal modernises and streamlines the fire safety renewal process in a fundamental way. Calling the initiative an important milestone in advancing transparent and technology-driven governance, the Chief Minister said it would greatly strengthen the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ environment in the national Capital. The Chief Minister noted that over the past eight months, the Delhi Government has introduced several historic reforms benefitting traders, citizens, and institutions across the city. Processes relating to fire permits, licensing, and other statutory approvals have been simplified, made more transparent, and integrated through a single-window mechanism. Earlier, multiple agencies were involved, resulting in procedural delays and inconvenience. Clear departmental accountability has now been established, and responsibility for issuing the final certificate rests with the Speaking on the occasion, Delhi’s Home Minister Ashish Sood said, “The objective is to make governance simpler, more efficient, and empowering for citizens. He said the new portal exemplifies this vision by enabling hassle-free, transparent renewal of Fire Clearance Certificates for residential and commercial establishments once their three-year (commercial) or five-year (residential) validity expires. He highlighted that the system has been designed to be extremely user-friendly. Applicants need to provide only four basic details- the address of the premises, PAN number, CA number on the electricity bill, and the previous Fire Clearance Certificate number. Previously, the Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) renewal process was entirely manual and offline, posing substantial challenges for applicants as well as the Delhi Fire Service. Applicants were required to visit DFS offices repeatedly for verification and document submission, which had to be provided in hard copy. Manual file processing led to frequent delays, risk of misplaced documents, and inadequate transparency. Even obtaining a status update required a physical visit, making the system time-consuming and inefficient. The new online system has transformed the process into a fully digital, paperless, and citizen-friendly workflow. Applicants can now submit their renewal form digitally along with three essential documents. Automated, zone-based routing ensures that applications are instantly forwarded to the relevant officers, Scrutiny Assistant, ADO, Divisional Officer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, and Chief Fire Officer/Director. During inspection, the ADO visits the premises and uploads the inspection report directly to the portal. Once approvals are completed, the Fire Safety Certificate is automatically generated and issued online. Applicants receive SMS and email notifications at every stage and can download the final FSC from the portal with ease.

5 hours ago

Health

Govt asks corporations to ensure proper running of liquor stores

The Delhi Government has issued an advisory to its four municipal corporations, urging them to ensure the proper operation of liquor stores and to address customer complaints promptly. This advisory follows an incident at a liquor store in Narela, operated by the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), where staff were caught red-handed refilling cheap alcohol and water into bottles of expensive brands. The excise department issued the advisory earlier this week, noting an increase in “complaints” regarding retail liquor outlets managed by the corporations. Issues highlighted include “overcharging, non-availability of brands, misbehaviour by vend staff, selling liquor to under-age persons, open drinking, public nuisance near the liquor store premises.” The advisory also mentioned incidents of liquor adulteration at the L6 vend, which led to the registration of a police case and the cancellation of the store’s licence. Adulteration, or the mixing of harmful substances with liquor, is classified as a serious offence under the Delhi Excise Act of 2009 and the Delhi Excise Rules of 2010. Such acts not only bring disrepute and dishonour to the department but also can cause harm to public health and safety, read the advisory. “Therefore, in public interest, all the Government agencies operating liquor vends are hereby advised to keep strict vigil on the functioning of their vends to ensure that no such incident is repeated at their vends in the future and also address the grievances of consumers and take necessary measures,” it added. Earlier this month, an enforcement team from the excise department conducted a raid at the liquor store. During the operation, employees were found refilling and mixing cheap alcohol with water in bottles of high-end brands. Four individuals were caught inside the partly open store during the raid, an excise department officer said. Additionally, the team discovered a vehicle parked outside the store containing a bag of empty liquor bottles, some of which were being used for the illegal refilling operation. Delhi Government’s corporations — Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), DTTDC, Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC), and DCCWS—operate over 700 liquor stores across the city.

5 hours ago

Politics

Delhi Govt provided Rs 175 crore to MCD for garbage disposal: Sood

Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood said on Saturday that the Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood said on Saturday that the Government is making every effort to strengthen sanitation in the city, and has provided special assistance of Rs 175 crore to the MCD for garbage disposal. During an inspection of sanitation work in West Delhi’s Vishnu Garden, Sood said the Government is considering allocation of additional funds to the civic body to ensure cleanliness. On the instructions of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, special financial assistance of Rs 175 crore has been provided to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to clear pending payments of contractors engaged in garbage collection, the minister said. “We will move a Cabinet note for additional funds to the MCD. Every possible help will be extended to the civic body for a neat and clean Delhi,” he said. The minister claimed that during the last two-and-a-half years of the AAP’s tenure in the MCD, Delhi’s sanitation system was derailed due to “improper contracts and mismanagement”. He said the Delhi Government is working to fix the issues, and on the chief minister’s direction, all the ministers are personally monitoring cleanliness and sanitation works across Delhi. During the inspection drive, Sood visited several residential and commercial areas in Ward 95 and took note of the issues faced by the residents. The Government is working at multiple levels to strengthen the sanitation system and improve waste management in the city, the minister said, asserting that residents will have a clean city in the coming days. He also urged residents to send daily photographs of overflowing dustbins and stagnant dirty water from their locality directly to the Minister’s mobile number so he can stay informed about ground realities. The Minister urges residents to send DAILY photographs of overflowing dustbins and stagnant dirty water to the Minister’s mobile NUMBER

5 hours ago

World

US lawmaker to introduce bill to fully eliminate H 1B visa programme

An American lawmaker will be introducing a bill to “completely eliminate” the H-1B visa programme and take away the pathway to citizenship that it offers, forcing individuals to “return home” when their visa expires. “My dear fellow Americans, I’m introducing a bill to completely eliminate the H-1B visa programme, which has been riddled with fraud and abuse and has been displacing American workers for decades,” Congresswoman from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, said in a video posted on X on Thursday. She said that there will only be one exemption in her bill, which will allow for a 10,000 per year cap on visas issued to medical professionals like doctors and nurses who provide life-saving care to Americans. Greene, however, noted that even this 10,000 per year cap will be “phased out” over 10 years to “allow us time to build our own pipeline of American doctors and physicians.” Greene added that her bill will also “take away the pathway to citizenship, forcing visa holders to return home when their visa expires.” She further said that the intention of her bill is to restore the “original intent” of the H-1B visa, which was “for it to be temporary. “These visas were intended to fulfil a speciality occupational need at a given time. People should not be allowed to come and live here forever. We thank them for their expertise, but we also wish them well so they may return to their home country,” she said. “Now this will completely end the H-1B visa programme and all other sectors in the job force and in the workforce. This is America first. It’s time to put American citizens first instead of foreigners first, and this has been an abuse for far too long. Americans deserve a future. They deserve a chance. And I believe Americans are the most talented people in the world, the most creative, and I want them to have their American dream,” she said.

1 days ago

Politics

MY win in Bihar

The decisive majority of BJP-JD (U) alliance in the Bihar polls signals a shifting political equation — from the traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) base to Mahila-Youth support. The result was the culmination of a carefully managed campaign that blended communication, seat distribution and building a voter coalition broader than anything the State has seen in decades. High enthusiasm among women and first-time voters, combined with a re-energised JD(U), powered the NDA’s appeal around the double-engine leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Concerns about CM Nitish Kumar’s health and political longevity proved unfounded as his personal credibility remained a stabilising force. His campaign leaned on sharp, memorable slogans such as Bihar ka matlab Nitish Kumar reinforcing his identity as the State’s most experienced administrator. The JD(U)’s negotiated seat parity with the BJP signalled an equal partnership and boosted confidence among undecided voters. Nitish’s long record on infrastructure, welfare expansion and governance beyond caste lines played a crucial role in consolidating swing communities that had drifted in previous cycles. In contrast to earlier elections marked by friction and last-minute realignments, the NDA went into this contest with one of its cleanest seat-sharing arrangements. The BJP and JD(U) agreed to contest an equal 101 seats each — an uncommon balance in Bihar’s coalition politics — while allies such as LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM(S) and RLM received seats that matched their regional influence. This alignment ensured every partner operated within its strongest zones, minimising internal competition and maximising ground-level coordination. The NDA’s landslide rested on a re-engineered caste coalition that stretched well beyond its traditional anchors. The BJP secured a consolidated upper-caste vote, while JD(U) retained its Kurmi base and made substantial inroads among Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). At the same time, LJP (Ram Vilas) and HAM(S) succeeded in strengthening their standing among Dalit and Mahadalit communities. This broad coalition outpaced the Mahagathbandhan’s dependence on the Muslim-Yadav axis. A new voting bloc emerged in the form of the “MY” (Mahila-Youth) factor - a demographic that the NDA dominated. Strategic welfare initiatives and targeted outreach enabled the alliance to knit together groups that were once electorally scattered. Women voters ultimately shaped the outcome. In several districts, female turnout surpassed male turnout by 10 to 20 percentage points. The extensive network of Jeevika Didis ensured smooth mobilisation, particularly in rural areas where women often face barriers to reaching polling stations. Nitish Kumar’s long-term focus on female empowerment - through welfare schemes, educational incentives and social support networks - paid off at the ballot box. The addition of more than 1.4 million first-time voters, many of them young women, created an advantage that the Opposition struggled to counter.

1 days ago

Politics

Victory against lies and jungle raj PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday vowed to throw out jungle raj from West Bengal and said that just as the river Ganga flows to Bengal through Bihar, this victory has cleared the path for the BJP’s victory there also. Addressing party workers and supporters at the BJP headquarters, Modi said the Congress has become Muslimleegi Maowadi Congress — MMC and will witness a big split soon. In a swipe at the top Congress leadership, he said some naamdars within the party are drowning everyone with them. During his address, PM Modi wore a gamchha with Mithila painting as a symbolic gesture to connect with the people of Bihar. He said the victory in Bihar has given a new “MY — Mahila and Youth” formula with the people destroying the “communal M-Y formula of the jungle raj people”. He said Bihar is the land that gave India the pride of being the mother of democracy, and the same land has ensured that the people attacking democracy “bite the dust”. “Bihar has shown again that lies are defeated and people’s trust wins,” PM Modi said. In a scathing attack on the Congress, the PM said it has no positive vision for the country.

1 days ago

Politics

Nabi’s house demolished after Delhi blast

A multi-storey house, belonging to Dr Umar Un Nabi, who allegedly triggered the car blast near the Red Fort Metro station on November 10, was demolished using explosives during the intervening night of November 13-14 in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. A total of 13 people were killed and 20 others were injured in the terror attack orchestrated by the members of a ‘White Collar’ terror module. Investigation into the blast has so far revealed that Umar, a doctor at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, was driving the Hyundai i20 car that exploded near a traffic signal on the Netaji Subhash Marg near Red Fort. His presence in the car was later confirmed by matching DNA samples found at the blast site and collected from his mother. To avoid collateral damage in the built-up area, the neighbours and the family members of the terror suspect were directed to shift to safer locations before the house was demolished. The local police authorities have not issued any statement on the demolitions till late evening. The demolition of his house in Kashmir is aimed at sending a stern message to those backing terrorist activities on Indian soil. Earlier, homes of local terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—Adil Hussain Thoker of Bijbehara and Aasif Sheikh of Tral and others were razed to the ground after the Pahalgam terror attack. Their names figured in the list of local terrorists who were part of the bigger terror module behind the Pahalgam massacre. The car blast near the Red Fort was triggered within hours after a recovery of about 2,900 kg of bomb-making material and sophisticated weapons, such as assault rifles, from Faridabad. This recovery was made from Muzammil and Shaheen Saeed, doctors and associates of Umar. Both doctors are now in custody and are being questioned to unravel the conspiracy behind amassing explosives in Faridabad. Investigators suspect that the module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat Ul-Hind plotted to carry out a much bigger attack, and the Delhi blast was the result of Umar panicking after his associates were arrested. Reacting to the demolition of Dr Umar Nabi’s home, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said the “harshest recourse” should be taken against those involved in the Delhi blast, “but as per the law”. Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said that demolishing a home doesn’t deliver “punishment”, but that it only inflicts collective suffering. “Making an entire family homeless during the harsh winter of Kashmir without evidence/court order, or any law linking them to the incident is an act of cruelty. It doesn’t bring justice to the innocent lives that we lost in the terror attack, and it doesn’t achieve the ends of justice,” he said.

1 days ago

Politics

Phoenix soars in Patna

What was seen as a litmus test of his political relevance instead reaffirmed him as Bihar’s Phoenix — a leader repeatedly rising from near defeat, tested on endurance and trust. For Nitish Kumar, who has governed the State for nearly two decades, this election became a measure of both endurance and trust. A buoyed Nitish Kumar, thanked the people of the State for giving a landslide victory. “People of the State have expressed their confidence in our Government by giving us a landslide mandate in the polls. For this, I bow to all the esteemed voters of the State, and express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks,” Nitish posted on social media. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continuous support to the NDA Government in the State and congratulated other NDA alliance partners Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha. Once celebrated as Sushashan Babu for steering Bihar out of what was often called the era of jungle raj, Kumar has in recent years faced voter fatigue and criticism over his unpredictable political alliances. Yet, the latest verdict reveals a complex electoral faith that prizes governance and delivery over coalition arithmetic. Women’s empowerment, roads, electricity, education, and safety triumphed over rhetoric. The NDA’s women-centric policies emerged as the decisive factor, mirroring the success of similar models in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, offering start-up grants and mentorship for aspiring women entrepreneurs, created a direct emotional and economic link with a key demographic. Just as the Ladli Behna initiative in Madhya Pradesh and Majhi Ladki Bahin programme in Maharashtra cemented a loyal female vote, Bihar’s version created a quiet but powerful groundswell. Even recipients awaiting their first instalment voiced confidence that “as long as Nitish is there, the money will come.” A record-high turnout among women — outnumbering men by almost 10 percentage points — appears to have decisively favoured the BJP-led coalition. Beyond women-focused outreach, the Nitish Government targeted grassroots benefits: free electricity for the first 125 units, tablets and smartphones for Vikas Mitras and Shiksha Sevaks, and enhanced pensions for the elderly and disabled. Construction workers received new clothing allowances, while ASHA, Anganwadi, and Jeevika workers saw their honorariums rise. Together with the promise of one crore jobs over five years, these measures crafted an image of inclusive governance and welfare continuity-helping replicate the success of women-driven victories seen in other BJP bastions. Kumar’s own revival mid-campaign also played a critical role: his high-energy rallies and emphatic speeches countered speculation over his health and suitability for another term. His declaration that he had “never sought personal gain in life,” captured in a widely shared video, seemed to strike a chord across Bihar’s caste divides. Nitish Kumar’s staying power lies in a rare political equation. Through careful social engineering —bringing together Extremely Backward Classes, Mahadalits, and non-Yadav OBCs — he has maintained a durable coalition of trust.

1 days ago

Politics

RJD wins votes loses Bihar polls

Tejashwi Yadav-led RJD was routed in the Assembly polls despite securing a higher vote share than both the BJP and JD(U). Projected as the INDIA bloc’s next chief minister, Tejashwi, however, salvaged some pride by retaining his Raghopur seat. Yet, the RJD’s defeat shows that voters not only rejected the alliance but also largely dismissed its campaign. Contesting 143 seats in the 243-member Assembly, the RJD has so far secured a 22.84 per cent vote share — 1.94 percentage points more than the BJP and 3.91 points more than the JD(U). The BJP stands at 20.40 per cent, while the JD(U) has 18.83 per cent.The RJD entered the 2025 race relying on its traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) base, which forms roughly 30 per cent of Bihar’s electorate. Tejashwi struggled to win over Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), Dalits, and aspirational youth, who over the past decade have steadily shifted toward the JD(U)-BJP combine. The MY formula, crafted by Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1990 after the Bhagalpur riots, once powered the party’s uninterrupted rule until 2005. But in 2025, Tejashwi failed to expand beyond this core. The much-publicised 2023 caste survey, pitched by the RJD as a milestone for backward caste empowerment, failed to generate broader traction, with critics dismissing it as a political tool rather than a transformative step. Tejashwi’s failure to treat allies — the Congress, Left parties, and smaller partners — as equals led to major strategic errors and weakened coalition cohesion. Seat-sharing tensions and his RJD-centric approach caused internal friction and poor vote transfers. He branded the alliance manifesto as Tejashwi’s Pledge and sidelined allies in campaign material, where Rahul Gandhi’s photos appeared notably smaller. His campaign leaned heavily on big populist promises — Government jobs for every household, expanded pensions, and a review of the liquor ban — but lacked credible implementation plans. The absence of a clear blueprint for funding and executing the job for every household pledge fueled voter distrust. Tejashwi’s attempt to balance Lalu Prasad Yadav’s complex legacy produced a muddled strategy. While he embraced Lalu’s social justice plank, he simultaneously distanced himself from the image by reducing Lalu’s presence on posters — a contradiction the NDA capitalised on. Despite efforts to recast the RJD as a governance- and welfare-focused party, the shadow of the 1990-2005 period - widely labelled — remained a major deterrent. The NDA, especially the JD(U), reinforced this contrast by noting that elections today see minimal violence compared to earlier decades, citing that in the 1985, 1990, and 1995 polls, dozens were killed and repolling was ordered in hundreds of booths. Nitish Kumar’s reputation for stability and improved law and order further overshadowed Tejashwi’s promises. This election marks the RJD’s second-worst performance in Bihar. In the 2005 Assembly polls — when Nitish Kumar swept to power with a thumping NDA victory — the RJD won 55 seats. At the time, Rabri Devi was Chief Minister and the party was battling deep anti-incumbency. Nitish Kumar, in alliance with the BJP, ended the RJD’s long rule. The party’s worst performance came in 2010, when it secured just 22 seats.

1 days ago

Politics

Verdict redraws Bihar s power equations

A wave of decisive mandates, many with margins exceeding 50,000 votes, has strengthened the NDA, especially the BJP and the JD(U), while leaving the RJD to defend shrinking territory and explain significant defeats of top leaders. In constituency after constituency, NDA leaders and high-profile debutants pulled ahead early and widened their leads. The BJP’s most formidable showing came from Samrat Choudhary, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister and a key OBC face of the party. His sweeping victory in Tarapur, by 45,843 votes, reaffirmed his expanding clout within the NDA. With 1,22,480 votes, Choudhary’s performance cements his position as one of the most influential leaders shaping the party’s trajectory in Bihar. His colleague and fellow Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha added to the party’s strength map by winning Lakhisarai with 24,940 votes, backed by a solid 1,22,408 votes polled. Sinha’s win signals that his command over the constituency remains intact, despite the fierce challenge posed by the Opposition. The BJP paired such senior victories with the rise of compelling new entrants. Maithili Thakur, a cultural icon and first-time candidate, clinched Alinagar by 11,730 votes, showing that the party’s strategy of fielding fresh faces resonated powerfully with youth and first-time voters. In Siwan, Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey delivered one of the RJD’s most stinging defeats by ousting Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary by 9,370 votes. Given Chaudhary’s long legislative presence, the loss marks a symbolic collapse of the RJD’s hold in a sensitive political zone. The BJP’s winning streak extended across the State: Shreyasi Singh dominated Jamui with a margin of 54,498; Nitin Nabin protected urban BJP turf in Bankipur by 51,936 votes; and Nitish Mishra triumphed in Jhanjharpur with 54,849 votes. The successes of Jibesh Kumar in Jale, Prem Kumar in Gaya Town, and Renu Devi in Bettiah underscored the party’s rural-urban equilibrium and its well-distributed leadership. The JD(U) matched the BJP stride for stride, powered by veteran anchors who ensured stability in the party’s core belts. Leading the pack was Kaladhar Prasad Mandal, who delivered the single largest winning margin of these elections: 73,572 votes in Rupauli. In Gopalpur, seasoned JD(U) leader Shailesh Kumar (Bulo Mandal) captured 1,08,630 votes and won with a margin of 58,135, reinforcing the party’s dominance in Extremely Backward Class pockets. Senior minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, handling key portfolios including Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs in the Bihar Government, secured Sarairanjan with a margin of 20,798 votes. Minister Shravon Kumar protected Nalanda with 33,008 votes, a seat central to JD(U)’s political identity. Other major JD(U) gains included Kaushal Kishore in Rajgir (margin 55,428), Sheela Kumari in Phulparas, Leshi Singh in Dhamdaha, Maheshwar Hazari in Kalyanpur, and Aniruddha Prasad Yadav in Nirmali. The much-watched battle of Mokama went to Anant Singh, who defeated RJD’s Veena Devi by 28,206 votes, delivering yet another blow to the RJD’s senior ranks. For the RJD, the election was a mixed ledger tilted sharply toward disappointment. While Tejashwi Yadav held Raghopur with a margin of 14,532 votes, the reduced gap from his 2020 margin signalled weakened momentum. The losses of leaders like Awadh Bihari Chaudhary and Veena Devi further deepened the party’s concerns. A few bright spots offered some consolation. First-time candidate Osama Shahab claimed Raghunathpur with 9,248 votes, and former minister Alok Kumar Mehta held on to Ujiarpur by 16,283 votes. Taken together, Bihar’s 2025 verdict is more than a numerical win. It is a recalibration of political strength, fortifying the NDA’s pillars, expanding its base with new entrants, and leaving the RJD facing a critical test of strategy and leadership renewal.

1 days ago

Health

From resurgence to renaissance: Bihar’s march toward a new era

The people of Bihar have spoken with clarity and conviction. This mandate is not merely an electoral victory; it is a reaffirmation of Bihar’s collective faith in the path of development, stability, and good governance. As we step into a new term, the responsibility ahead is immense, but so is our determination to accelerate the journey of progress that has transformed millions of lives over the past decades. Under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the steady and experienced leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar has been on a remarkable path of transformation. This mandate is a reaffirmation that the people want this journey to continue with greater momentum. Over the past decade, Bihar has undergone an extraordinary shift in its development trajectory. What was once a state struggling for basic roads, healthcare access, electricity, and administrative stability is today a state that is building expressways, attracting industries, empowering women, strengthening agriculture, and expanding welfare delivery with remarkable speed. None of this happened overnight. It is the result of consistent effort, collaborative governance between the Centre and the State, and a clear commitment that the fruits of development must reach every home, every village, and every citizen. Infrastructure has been the backbone of Bihar’s resurgence. The expansion of national highways and state roads has fundamentally changed the pace of life and commerce in the state. Through major projects like the AIIMS-Digha elevated road, the Patna-Buxar highway, the Patna Gaya route, and the fast-progressing Ganga bridge projects including the monumental Kacchi Dargah Bidupur bridge, Bihar’s connectivity has been reshaped. Roads that once took hours to traverse can now be covered in minutes. Markets have become more accessible, schools and hospitals easier to reach, and transport of goods more efficient. Whether it is the Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga corridor, Sitamarhi link roads, or other regional connectors, Bihar’s Road network has become a symbol of its new aspirations. Railways have witnessed a similar transformation. Modern trains such as Vande Bharat Express have begun operating in Bihar, bringing faster and more comfortable travel to the people. Station redevelopment in Patna, Rajendra Nagar, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and Begusarai reflects the state’s growing infrastructure ambitions. Electrification and doubling of tracks have improved safety and efficiency, benefiting both passengers and industries dependent on freight movement. Under Prime Minister Modi’s national vision for rail modernisation, Bihar has been an important beneficiary. Healthcare in Bihar has expanded rapidly. AIIMS Patna now serves as a major centre of advanced treatment, and new medical colleges in Purnea, Madhepura, Bettiah, Nalanda, Vaishali, and Chhapra are strengthening both medical education and district-level services. Ayushman Bharat has provided lakhs of families with crucial financial protection, while Health and Wellness Centres have brought primary care closer to rural homes. Under the combined leadership of the Centre and State, healthcare has moved from scarcity to steady, structured growth. Agriculture, too, has seen a major transformation. The Kosi-Mechi Link Project and over Rs 11,000 crore in central assistance have strengthened irrigation and flood management across vulnerable regions. Modernisation of the Sone canal, soil testing, mechanisation, agricultural credit, and PM-KISAN have significantly improved farmers’ financial stability. Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Bihar’s agricultural sector has become more resilient, productive, and future-ready, with targeted policies bringing real change to rural lives. Social welfare programmes have transformed lives across Bihar. Under PM Awas Yojana, lakhs of families now have permanent homes, an outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering commitment to ensuring dignity and security for every household. Ujjwala Yojana has provided clean cooking fuel to lakhs of women, improving their health and easing daily hardship. The Jal Jeevan Mission has brought reliable tap water to rural homes that once depended on distant or uncertain sources, reflecting the Prime Minister’s focus on essential services for all. Swachh Bharat has strengthened sanitation infrastructure and awareness, driving a major shift in rural hygiene practices and advancing the nationwide cleanliness movement inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bihar’s industrial landscape is gaining new momentum. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new industrial parks in Gaya, Purnea, Motihari, and Sitamarhi are drawing investment in food processing, agro-industries, textiles, and small manufacturing, giving a decisive push to regional growth. MSMEs, strengthened by Mudra loans and the Credit Guarantee Trust, have become major engines of employment and entrepreneurship across the state. Youth skill development centres, upgraded ITIs, and vocational institutes are preparing young people for modern trades from logistics and healthcare to hospitality and digital services, reflecting the Prime Minister’s unwavering focus on skill enhancement and future-ready employment. Education has expanded significantly, with new universities, engineering colleges, and agricultural institutions, alongside the implementation of the National Education Policy, opening wider opportunities for students. Digital India, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has bridged the urban-rural divide by bringing broadband connectivity, e-governance, and digital financial services to every corner of Bihar. Atmanirbhar Bharat has provided a powerful national framework for Bihar’s aspirations. Under this vision of self-reliance articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State has embraced local production, skill development, agricultural mechanisation, and empowerment of small and micro enterprises. The emphasis on building domestic capacity, strengthening supply chains, promoting rural industries, and encouraging innovation has fuelled a new sense of purpose among Bihar’s youth and entrepreneurs. Atmanirbhar Bharat is not merely a slogan, it has become a road map through which Bihar is positioning itself for sustained economic independence and future-ready growth. Self-employment and entrepreneurship have emerged as engines of transformation in Bihar. Thousands of youths are now turning to self-employment not out of compulsion, but out of ambition, whether through food processing units, small manufacturing setups, digital service centres, agri-based enterprises, or rural startups. Schemes such as Mudra Yojana, PM SVANidhi, Stand-Up India, and access to collateral-free credit have helped young entrepreneurs overcome traditional financial barriers. Simultaneously, skill development centres, upgraded ITIs, and digital training hubs are equipping youth with capabilities for modern trades. This surge in self-employment reflects a deeper economic awakening in which Bihar’s youth are becoming job creators, innovators, and contributors to local economies. Urban development, too, has progressed. Under the Smart Cities Mission, cities like Patna, Bhagalpur, and Muzaffarpur have seen improvements in traffic systems, surveillance, solid waste management, public service integration, and infrastructure. AMRUT projects have strengthened water supply, sewerage networks, urban transport, and green spaces. These improvements have contributed to more organised and sustainable urban life. Energy infrastructure has expanded rapidly. Bihar today has almost universal household electrification, supported by new substations, upgraded transmission lines, and reduced outages. The extension of gas pipelines under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana has introduced cleaner energy for households and industries. It is in the context of this large-scale progress that the contrast with the past becomes unmistakable. Bihar has moved far away from the era once described as “jungle raj”, a period associated with fear, administrative paralysis, and a breakdown of law and order. The transformation from that uncertainty to today’s environment of stability, infrastructure expansion, and welfare delivery is a testament to what focused governance can achieve. The people’s mandate has made it clear that Bihar must never lose the progress it has gained, and must never return to an atmosphere where insecurity overshadows opportunity. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership, Bihar has seen what cooperative federalism and purposeful governance can accomplish together. Today, Bihar stands on a stronger foundation with better roads, robust welfare programmes, improved healthcare, expanding educational institutions, and systems built on transparency and efficiency. With this new mandate, the people have expressed their desire for development to move even faster. They want more industries, more jobs, stronger agricultural support, better healthcare access, modern schools, advanced digital infrastructure, and continued focus on women, youth, and the most vulnerable. They want Bihar to align itself with India’s goals for 2047 to become a state that contributes confidently and meaningfully to the national journey towards becoming a developed nation. This victory is a reminder of responsibility more than celebration. It is an assurance that the people believe in a development-first model of governance. It is a call to deepen our commitment, accelerate our work, and ensure that the benefits of growth reach every corner of the State. Bihar today moves forward with steady leadership, visionary national guidance, and the collective hope of millions. With humility and determination, we remain committed to building a Bihar that is stronger, more prosperous, and more confident than ever before. BJP National Media Co-Head, National Spokesperson and Chief Whip of the BJP in the Bihar Legislative Council. Over the past decade, Bihar has undergone an extraordinary shift in its development trajectory

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