Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday reaffirmed his strong allegiance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying he “loves PM Modi a bit too much” to ever consider leaving the alliance.

In an interaction with media, Paswan dismissed speculation about any post-poll alliance after the Bihar assembly elections, asserting that his commitment to the NDA remains absolute. “As long as my Prime Minister is there, I am absolutely not going anywhere. My dedication and my love remain,” he said.

He added that although he maintains cordial communication with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, political realignment is “out of question.”

Reminiscing Ram Vilas Paswan’s political legacy

Reflecting on his father Ram Vilas Paswan’s political journey, Chirag said the former Union Minister’s decisions often proved decisive for whichever alliance he joined. “My father was called a ‘mausam vaigyanik’ because whichever side he chose came to power,” he said, recalling how the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) joined the UPA in 2004 after parting ways with the NDA in 2002.

Describing that move as a “good omen,” Chirag noted that even when most people believed in the BJP’s “India Shining” campaign, it was Ram Vilas Paswan’s alignment with the UPA that coincided with its surprise victory.

“I am not going anywhere”: Chirag on NDA ties

The LJP (RV) leader emphasised that his party has never entered into a post-poll alliance and always stood by its chosen coalition before elections. “No matter how many MLAs we have, whether the government is formed or not, I am right here,” he asserted.

Chirag also backed Nitish Kumar as the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate and reiterated his party’s focus on its “Bihar First, Bihari First” agenda.

Following the 2020 split in the original Lok Janshakti Party, Chirag now leads the LJP (Ram Vilas) faction, which rejoined the NDA before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and won all five seats it contested in Bihar.

As the second phase of the 2025 Bihar assembly elections approaches, the NDA faces a key test in northern Bihar, where several of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ministers are contesting crucial constituencies.

A Rs 50 lakh cash trail has emerged in the probe into the supply of adulterated ghee used to prepare the world-famous Tirupati laddus, the sacred offering distributed to lakhs of devotees at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

Alleged hawala payments traced to political aide

According to sources, K Chinnappanna, personal assistant to Lok Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy of the ruling YSR Congress Party and former TTD chairman, allegedly received the money from hawala agents linked to Uttar Pradesh-based Premier Agri Foods Pvt Ltd. The transactions reportedly took place near Delhi’s Patel Nagar Metro Station, with Rs 20 lakh allegedly given by Delhi-based agent Aman Gupta and the remainder by company executive Vijay Gupta.

Massive ghee adulteration uncovered

Investigations revealed that 60.37 lakh kg of adulterated ghee, valued at over Rs 240 crore, was supplied to the temple. The ghee, mixed with palm oils, chemicals, and other foreign particles, was sourced from four dairies—Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd, Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products, and AR Dairy Foods.

Despite a 2022 report by the Central Food Technological Research Institute confirming adulteration, supplies continued until 2024, raising concerns over official negligence and possible collusion.

Court and political controversy

The issue triggered a major political and social storm after reports claimed that animal fats, including fish oil and lard, were found in ghee samples used for the laddus. Former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of allowing impure ghee during its tenure.

The Supreme Court, while urging restraint on politicizing the matter, ordered a joint probe involving the CBI, Andhra Pradesh Police, and food safety officials. Their report exposed widespread manipulation of documents and pricing to secure tenders for ghee supply.

The Tirupati temple’s kitchen prepares around three lakh laddus daily, using nearly 1,500 kg of ghee along with large quantities of sugar, gram flour, cashew nuts, raisins, and cardamoms.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced that singing the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ will be made compulsory in all schools and educational institutions across the state. The move comes as a political row intensifies between the BJP and Congress over the song penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875.

Addressing an Ekta Yatra (unity march) in Gorakhpur, the Chief Minister said the initiative aims to inspire patriotism and strengthen national unity. “There should be a sense of respect for the national song Vande Mataram. We will make singing it compulsory in every school and educational institution of Uttar Pradesh. This is essential for everyone. We must identify the factors that weaken national unity and effectively counter them so that no Jinnahs are born in the future,” he said.

Congress-BJP clash over ‘Vande Mataram’

Yogi Adityanath criticised the Congress, alleging that the party had once labelled Vande Mataram “communal” and altered its original lyrics, a move he said contributed to India’s partition. “No religion or caste can be greater than the country. There is no point in opposing the Vande Mataram song,” he added.

The controversy erupted last week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of dropping key stanzas from the national song in 1937. He said this act “sowed the seeds of division” and reflected a mindset that continues to challenge India’s unity.

BJP spokesperson C.R. Kesavan also criticised former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for “pandering to communal sentiments” by removing references to goddess Durga from the song. He cited letters to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose suggesting that parts of Vande Mataram were seen as potentially “irritating” to Muslims.

Responding to the allegations, the Congress accused the BJP and its ideological mentor of avoiding Vande Mataram in their events, claiming they preferred to sing Namaste Sada Vatsale instead. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded an apology from the BJP, alleging that the ruling party had insulted both the Congress Working Committee of 1937 and Rabindranath Tagore.