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Prashant Kishor may take on Tejashwi Yadav in Raghopur, sparks buzz over seat choice

Political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor is weighing his options between Kargahar and Raghopur, with a potential face-off against Tejashwi Yadav sparking major buzz ahead of the Bihar Assembly election.

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As Bihar gears up for its upcoming Assembly elections, speculation is rife about where political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor will contest from. The Jan Suraaj chief has hinted that his debut could be from either his home constituency, Kargahar in Rohtas district, or Raghopur, the bastion of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Kishor’s likely options: Kargahar or Raghopur

In a recent interview, Prashant Kishor confirmed that discussions within his party are underway to finalise his candidature. “Deliberations are on in the party, and if a collective decision is taken that I too enter the fray, then, as I also said in that interview, it has to be Kargahar or Raghopur,” he stated.

The Kargahar seat, formed in 2008, has seen the Janata Dal (United) win twice and the Congress once in its three Assembly elections. Political observers see it as a relatively safer option for Kishor’s electoral debut.

Raghopur: The RJD stronghold

However, contesting from Raghopur would be a bold move — and a direct challenge to Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly. The Vaishali-based constituency has long been considered an RJD fortress. It was previously represented by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, and currently by their son Tejashwi. In the last three decades, RJD has lost Raghopur only once, in 2010, when JDU’s Satish Kumar Yadav defeated Rabri Devi.

If Prashant Kishor decides to contest from this seat, it would not just be an electoral contest but a symbolic political battle, signalling his intent to challenge the state’s biggest opposition leader on his home turf.

Jan Suraaj’s political debut

The upcoming polls will mark Jan Suraaj Party’s first major electoral test. Kishor, who launched a statewide yatra in 2022, claims to have built a strong grassroots network that will translate into votes. However, mainstream political parties have downplayed his influence, calling his movement “a desperate attempt to gain political relevance.”

While his final decision is awaited, Prashant Kishor’s choice between Kargahar and Raghopur could define his political trajectory — either a calculated entry or a high-stakes confrontation with Bihar’s most prominent young leader.

India News

Union Budget 2026 live updates: Nirmala Sitharaman set to present her 9th Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament today. Follow this space for live updates, key announcements and policy signals.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives to present Union Budget 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will shortly present the Union Budget 2026 in the Lok Sabha, marking her ninth consecutive Budget. The annual financial statement is expected to outline the government’s policy priorities, reform agenda and spending plans for the coming year. Stay tuned for live updates, key announcements and immediate reactions as the Budget speech unfolds.

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Nirmala Sitharaman to present ninth Union Budget with reforms in focus

Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth consecutive Union Budget today, with expectations centred on reforms, growth priorities, rural development and capital expenditure.

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Union budget 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth consecutive Union Budget today, marking another key moment in India’s economic policy calendar. The Budget is expected to lay out measures aimed at sustaining growth in what remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

For fiscal 2027, policy priorities are likely to include defence, infrastructure, capital expenditure, power and faster growth in affordable housing, according to expectations ahead of the presentation.

Shift in Budget speech structure

This year’s Union Budget is expected to break with a long-standing tradition in the structure of the finance minister’s speech. Until now, most major policy announcements were typically made in Part A, while Part B focused on taxation. This time, Part B is expected to be used to present a broader vision for India’s economic future.

The finance minister is also expected to outline short-term priorities as well as longer-term goals, positioning India’s economic strategy as the country moves deeper into the 21st century, with emphasis on domestic strengths and global ambitions.

Market backdrop ahead of Budget

Ahead of the Budget presentation, equity markets opened lower. Gold and silver futures also declined sharply on the Multi Commodity Exchange, extending the impact of a severe two-day global sell-off.

India’s economy has so far remained resilient despite punitive tariffs imposed by the United States under President Donald Trump. Growth is forecast at 7.4 per cent for the year ending March 31, supported by government spending on infrastructure and tax measures that boosted consumption.

Focus on rural development and jobs

Rural development and agriculture are expected to be among the top priorities in Union Budget 2026. The finance minister may announce higher allocations for programmes aimed at expanding employment opportunities in rural areas.

The Rural Development Ministry has sought a sharp increase in funding for the new employment guarantee scheme, ‘Viksit Bharat – G Ram G’ or VB-G Ram G, proposing a budget of Rs 1.51 lakh crore, a 72 per cent rise. In comparison, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme received Rs 86,000 crore in the previous Budget.

Fiscal deficit and capital expenditure

The budgeted fiscal deficit for fiscal 2026 is estimated at 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product. With the government having achieved a consolidation path that brought the deficit below 4.5 per cent, markets will closely watch signals on further debt-to-GDP reduction.

Capital expenditure for the current fiscal year has been budgeted at Rs 11.2 lakh crore. The government is expected to continue prioritising capex, with a possible increase of 10 to 15 per cent, as private sector investment remains cautious.

Investment reforms and global challenges

Further policy changes aimed at attracting domestic and foreign investment are also expected. These may include steps to make it easier for foreign companies to invest in defence firms that already hold licences.

The Union Budget 2026 comes at a time of mixed signals globally. While domestic demand remains steady and inflation has eased from recent highs, uncertainties linked to geopolitics, commodity price volatility and uneven monetary policy easing by major central banks continue to pose challenges.

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Union budget 2026 to be presented on Sunday with special trading session

The Union Budget 2026 will be presented on a Sunday for the first time in over two decades, with NSE and BSE announcing special trading sessions for the day.

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Nirmala Sitharaman

For the first time in more than two decades, the Union Budget will be presented on a Sunday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to table the Union Budget for 2026 in the Lok Sabha on February 1 at 11 am, even as the day is usually observed as a holiday for government offices and financial markets.

February 1 falls on a Sunday this year, raising questions about market operations and investor response. To ensure uninterrupted trading and immediate market reaction to budget announcements, stock exchanges have announced special arrangements for the day.

Markets to remain open on budget day

Both the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange have confirmed that markets will remain open on February 1. The NSE has announced a special trading session, with the pre-open market scheduled from 9 am to 9:08 am, followed by normal trading hours from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.

The BSE has also declared the day a special trading day, with regular market hours applicable. Trading is expected to continue across equity, derivatives, and futures and options segments.

What the Sunday budget means for investors

A weekend budget presentation is seen as offering certain advantages for market participants. With trading active on the same day, investors will be able to respond to policy announcements immediately rather than waiting for the next working day.

The Sunday timing also gives investors, analysts, and financial institutions additional time to go through detailed proposals, including tax changes, fiscal deficit targets, and sector-wise allocations. The extended window for analysis may help reduce sharp, headline-driven reactions and encourage more informed decision-making.

With fewer competing developments on a non-working day, budget announcements are also expected to receive more focused attention from markets and stakeholders.

Parliamentary schedule and key milestones

The Economic Survey is expected to be tabled on January 29, ahead of the budget presentation. The Budget Session of Parliament began on January 28 with the President’s address to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The upcoming budget will mark Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Union Budget. It will also be India’s 80th budget since Independence. Since 2017, Union Budgets have been presented at 11 am on February 1, following a timing change introduced during the tenure of former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

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