Bihar

The 'intellectual community' believes that it has some loopholes like the sub-castes in the Extremely Backward Class (EBC), Other Backward Castes (OBC), Dalit and Muslim communities will be counted but there is no provision to count sub-castes in upper castes. It has created suspicions in the minds of the people about the intentions of the state government, or this loophole being used for political purposes.

A large number of people assembled at the Jama mosque near Patna Junction to offer "Alvida Ka Namaz" on the last day of Ramzan month. After the prayers, a section of them came out on the roads and shouted slogans of "Shaheed Atiq Ahmed Amar Rahe, Ashraf Ahmed Amar Rahe, and Asad Ahmed Amar Rahe". They have also shouted slogans against the Centre and the UP government.

However, Nitish Kumar clarified that he is not a Prime Ministerial candidate of the opposition parties but he might play the role of UPA convener by following in the footsteps of his senior leader late George Fernandes. George Fernandes played a major role in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formation in 1998. At that time the Congress was ruling at the Centre and the opposition parties were scattered.

"You know what they (BJP leaders) are doing to the opposition leaders. Everyone is doing great work for the development of their respective states. Arvind Kejriwal has done so many good things for Delhi and people have great respect for him. Still they are targeting him. When the time comes, they will be given appropriate answers," Nitish Kumar said.

The Janata Dal (U) workers welcomed him with rose petals in the party's head office in Patna. The party workers chanted slogans -- "Desh Ka Neta Kaisa Ho, Nitish Kumar Jaisa Ho (The country's leader should be like Nitish Kumar". The Chief Minister was in the party office to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

"The Nitish formula for 2024 for opposition unity is One Seat One Candidate (OSOC). It has come into effect in the country. The discussions with all opposition parties are completed now and its result will be visible soon," senior JD-U leader K.C. Tyagi said on Thursday. "Some issues coming into the media about what happened to Mamata Benerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and K Chandrashekhar Rao, and these will be addressed soon.

A bench of Justices K.M. Joseph, Krishna Murari, and B.V. Nagarathna asked the state government counsel: "Do you know how many bail applications are coming from Bihar to this court? A lion's share of these bail applications is of the state's prohibition act." "Is there any study or any empirical data to show that due to the prohibition act, the graph of liquor consumption in the state is coming down?" it also asked.

Speaking to mediapersons here, the MP from Jamui said that Opposition parties cannot unite in the country. "We have a clear stand that the alliance will be made just before the elections. When elections come, we will form an alliance according to the situation at that time. I personally believe that Opposition unity is an eyewash," Paswan said.

The senior BJP leader claimed that Nitish Kumar is "mocking the job aspirants through the fresh guidelines". As per the new guidelines, the candidates who have passed CTET and BTET should have to appear in another examination conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) and they would get jobs only after passing it.

The political leaders know this fact and hence they are going all-out to bring them in their side. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday invited Chirag Paswan during the Iftar party in former official residence probably to pacify him. Chirag Paswan however refused to go there.