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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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India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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