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Nitish-NDA magic manages landslide victory in Bihar

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Nitish Kumar

By Vickram Kilpady

The Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance in Bihar is set to return to power with a landslide victory of over 200 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly elections, results of which were declared on Friday. The Rashtriya Janata Dal-led Mahagathbandhan, which also includes the Congress, came a distant second with less than 35 seats.

Nitish Kumar, who led a minority government after the 2020 victory and was saddled with two BJP Deputy CMs over the last five years, seems to have had the last laugh when his party, the Janata Dal United, managed to win 84 seats as opposed to 43 in 2020. The BJP is set to become the single largest party in the Assembly with 90 seats. The RJD, which was the single largest party in 2020 with 75 seats, had 25 seats including leads. There are bound to be interesting days ahead in the winning coalition. And if everything goes well, Kumar may be sworn in as chief minister for the 10th time and is already holding the longest tenure in power as Bihar CM.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Bihar for the victory and promised to further advance the state’s development. Crediting the landslide to good governance and development, he said NDA workers countered every lie brought against them by the opposition. Modi said the youth and women of the state will get many opportunities to build a prosperous life.

Claims of Kumar’s anti-incumbency, which was the focal point of the Mahagathbandhan, were thrown to the winds in this NDA victory. Also left in the lurch was the Jan Suraaj Party, floated by electoral strategist Prashant Kishor, not making a mark despite its founder’s insistence during the campaign that the NDA will not return to power.

The victory was plagued by complaints of electoral fixing, the effects of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India in which 65 lakh voters were struck off initially, and the release of Rs 10,000 to 25 lakh women under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana just ahead of the announcement of elections.

With leads blitzing away in the morning, Congress leader Udit Raj tweeted that SIR was ahead in the elections, thus venting the popular disaffection with the ECI exercise that ruffled several votebanks. The Jan Suraaj too bemoaned that the women of Bihar had forfeited their futures for just Rs 10,000. The Congress noted both the ECI’s ignoring opposition complaints regarding SIR and the Bihar government’s pro-women largesse ahead of polls.

Among the many reasons being pointed to for the Mahagathbandhan’s dismal showing, the inability of the Congress and RJD to make room for the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the alliance was cited as key. The AIMIM, which was keen to be in the Mahagathbandhan, won 5 seats handsomely in the Seemanchal region bordering West Bengal at the cost of the opposition alliance, said reports.

Other reports spoke of the Mahila-EBC (ME) factor for the NDA which defeated the RJD’s grip on the Muslim-Yadav (MY) votebank.

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DMK leader’s son arrested after car rams family in Krishnagiri, one dead

A 20-year-old son of a DMK leader has been arrested for allegedly driving a car into four members of a family in Krishnagiri, killing assistant labour inspector Sivamoorthy.

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DMK leader

A 20-year-old son of a leader from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been arrested for allegedly mowing down four members of a family following a heated argument in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district. One person died in the incident, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Sivamoorthy, an assistant labour inspector and a resident of Krishnagiri. According to the police, the incident occurred outside his residence after the accused, identified as Adithya, objected to a two-wheeler parked on the road.

Police said Adithya was driving the car and began honking as the two-wheeler was blocking the road. Sivamoorthy and his family members reportedly stepped out to move the vehicle. During the exchange that followed, an altercation broke out.

Investigators allege that Adithya then rammed his car into Sivamoorthy, his son Kirubakaran, daughter-in-law Amsavalli and granddaughter Nilani. Sivamoorthy sustained severe injuries and later succumbed. The others were injured in the incident.

Besides Adithya, two of his friends — Rithik Kumar and Harish — who were present in the car at the time, have also been arrested. A case of murder has been registered against the trio and further investigation is underway.

Kirubakaran, recounting the incident, said the family had attempted to move the parked two-wheeler when the accused damaged it. He alleged that the men appeared intoxicated and tried to assault them with a stick before the vehicle was driven into the family.

Amsavalli said they had tried to defuse the situation peacefully but the confrontation turned violent, resulting in her father-in-law’s death and injuries to her child.

A police officer stated that Adithya’s father is a local functionary of the DMK in Krishnagiri district. The victim’s family has demanded strict action in the case.

Reacting to the incident, state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, questioning the state government over the episode and alleging that party functionaries were misusing their influence.

Police said the probe is ongoing.

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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