Bihar

Shah is visiting Bihar to participate in a programme organised to remember freedom fighter Babu Veer Kunwar Singh in Bhojpur's Jagdishpur. According to sources in the JD(U), if Amit Shah talks about any controversial issues like "Uniform Civil Code" during the rally in Bhojpur's Jagdishpur or in Sasaram, it might irk Nitish Kumar.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accepting the invitation sent to him by Rabri Devi, and her sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, walked from his 7 Circular Road bungalow to her 10 Circular Road residence - a mere bungalow away. He was seen meeting Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav. Nitish Kumar's meeting with Tejashwi Yadav has a big message for BJP top leadership - coming it is a day before Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state.

Manjhi said that such processions were a serious threat to the unity and integrity of the country. "Following violence in several places including in Delhi over Hanuman Jayanti, the unity and integrity of the country is under huge threat. Hence, the time now has come to ban religious marches," Manjhi said in a tweet on Monday.

Speaking at an event organised by HAM MLA Praful Kumar Manjhi at Sikandra in Jamui district to mark Ambedkar Jayanti on Thursday, Manjhi said: "I don't believe Ram was a God. Ram was a character created by Tulsidas and Valmiki to spread their message." On September 22 last year, Manjhi had sparked a row after calling Lord Ram a historic figure who is just a character in a mythological story.

Bhumihars were considered the main pillars of the BJP in Bihar but now their focus is shifting towards the RJD. Now, the Bhumihar-Brahmin Social Front has decided to organise an event in Sri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna on May 8 to take deliberate on their course of action.

According to the Election Commission, 11.20 per cent voting was registered in first two hours of polling at 9 a.m. Polling began at 7 a.m. in 350 polling booths across the constituency. Despite high temperature, women were stepping out of their houses to exercise their franchise since morning. Several voters claimed that they are casting votes for a change of government in the state.

"We believe that the situation is changing now with people of upper castes, Dalits, Mahadalits, minorities are joining together and supporting the RJD. Our numbers are increasing in both the houses and we are also giving equal responsibility to every section of society with the eventual goal is to make the RJD more powerful," Tejashwi Yadav said.

JD-U national President Lalan Singh is seen as being influential in Munger and its adjoining districts, but his party candidate in Munger, Jamui and Lakhisarai MLC constituency Sanjay Prasad lost the election to Ajay Singh of the RJD. Internal dispute in the NDA is seen behind Prasad's defeat.

A day after saying that his wish to go to the Rajya Sabha was not fulfilled in his political career, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday clarified that he does not have any personal interest in going to the upper house of the Parliament. "Actually, the journalists had asked about my interest to go to the Rajya Sabha, and I replied to them that I don't have personal interest in it," he said.

“If someone doesn't believe in the ideals of Bapu (referring to Gandhi), then we don't even consider them an Indian...they are mahaayogya (inept), mahapaapi (sinner) who doesn't even listen to the father of the nation...” CM Nitish Kumar. Commenting on the recent deaths of people after they consumed illegal liquor (hooch), CM Nitish said that the state government is not responsible for such consequences as the individuals know that hooch is toxic and harmful to health.