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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Give me victory, I will give you developed Bihar': Who is Chirag Paswan targeting - opposition or Nitish Kumar?
NEW DELHI: "I want to contest assembly polls for the sake of Bihar - to realise my dream of Bihar First, Bihari First." "I would not contest the election from Bihar, but for Bihar." "You give me NDA's victory in assembly polls. I will give you a developed Bihar." These remarks from LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, who has announced his decision to contest the Bihar assembly elections later this year, interestingly sound more like an opposition leader than an ally of the ruling coalition. Chirag, who is a Union minister in the Modi government, has not joined the Nitish Kumar government, but is part of the NDA in Bihar. Bihar has been ruled by the NDA, which comprises the BJP , JD(U) and other smaller parties including the LJP, most of the last 20 years under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. There were times in between when Nitish, who is called the Palturam of Bihar politics, switched sides and formed government with the RJD and Congress. But all these experiments were short-lived. So, why is Chirag Paswan seeking votes to build a "developed Bihar." Is he targeting the opposition RJD and Congress or is he making a pitch against Nitish Kumar, who has been at the helm in the last two decades. Chirag has also claimed that "hurdles are being put in his way." "Many people are jittery that I want to come to Bihar. Hurdles are being put in my way. But I am not going to dissuaded. Earlier attempts to break me by causing a split in my party and a rift in my family have failed to dishearten me," the LJP leader has claimed in his various speeches. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 모공각화증, 이제는 만지지말고 집에서 이렇게 해보세요 현명한소비자 Undo So, the big question is "Who is jittery? Who is trying to put hurdles in his dream for "Bihar first, Bihari first"? Well, certainly not the opposition Mahagathbandhan of RJD and Congress. The track record of Chirag Paswan in assembly elections has been anything but impressive. Let's analyse the results of 2020 assembly elections and some of the remarks made by Chirag then to understand who could be jittery of him. Chirag, who in 2020 called for Nitish-free Bihar and coined the term "Asambhav Nitish", had this to say after the last assembly elections: "It was my aim to dent JD(U) and I worked on it. I also focused that we should not affect the BJP and asked my workers to support it. My aim was to provide more seats to BJP and damage to JD(U). The LJP will improve its performance in 2025." In 2020, Chirag's party contested 137 seats but could win just one. Its candidates finished second in nine constituencies. However, by cutting into the votes of Nitish Kumar's party, it ensured that for the first time the BJP with 74 seats became the senior partner of the coalition in Bihar and JD(U) with only 43 seats was pushed to being a junior partner. In the run up to the 2020 elections, the BJP kept Chirag away and included his uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras, who had rebelled after the death of Ram Vilas Paswan and split the party into two. However, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP got back Chirag into its fold and dumped his uncle Pashupati. That move gave boost to political career of Chirag, who went on to win all the 5 Lok Sabha seats that his party contested as part of NDA. Now, with Chirag staking claim for a greater role in the run up to the assembly elections, his target is obvious. That the BJP will emerge as the largest party in the ruling NDA is a given. What will be interesting to see is how much can Nitish Kumar's JD(U) gain this time? Or does it slide further? Several state BJP leaders have maintained that the Bihar elections will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. The BJP realises the importance of having Nitish on its side in the elections. The caste survey that Nitish got conducted has proved that the Bihar chief minister has the backing of the largest group of voter base in the state. However, this still does not guarantee that Nitish Kumar will be made the chief minister again by the coalition partners. However, political analyst Kumar Vijay feels that this time around Chirag may not be successful as he was five years ago as he is a part of the coalition and also Nitish and his close aides are ready for the challenges within. He also feels that Chirag's claim of Bihar first Bihari first may not have many takers. "In the last Lok Sabha elections, Chirag gave tickets to many of his relatives ignoring the party cadres. So his claim of Bihar first and Bihari first is now being viewed with suspicion. Also, unlike Lok Sabha polls where PM Modi's campaigning helped all allies in Bihar, Chirag and his party are likely to get limited advantage by virtue of being NDA ally," said Kumar Vijay, who has followed Bihar politics closely for several years. "Chirag Paswan is an example of caste pressure group which dominates today's politics. He has following in his caste group and that may help him to some extent," Kumar Vijay says. If Chirag Paswan ends up winning some seats, the road ahead for Nitish Kumar could be difficult. A weakened JD(U) will see the Bihar chief minister losing his bargaining power. More so, in the light of his reported health issues, which has been raised by the opposition time and again.
NDTV
5 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
NDTV Exclusive - What Nitish Kumar Asked Chirag Paswan On Stage During PM Rally
New Delhi: At a rally in Bihar's Siwan earlier this month, several leaders were seen gathered on stage, waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrive. Amid this, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen deep in conversation with Union Minister Chirag Paswan. NDTV now knows what transpired between the two. Nitish Kumar asked Mr Paswan if he was going to contest the Bihar Assembly Elections, and if he was, then from where. In a conversation with NDTV, Mr Paswan said, "When the PM was about to come on the stage, we were standing together. Chief Minister Nitish (Kumar) was there, Lalan Singh ji was there, and other leaders were also present. He never asked not to contest the elections. When we were talking, he was also sharing his experience of how he worked at the centre, and then he came to the state." Chirag Paswan 's desire, which he revealed recently, to contest polls in his home state was not well received by the Chief Minister's party. "I definitely want to contest the elections, and I have said this everywhere. Whether I will contest the elections or not will be decided by my party. The party itself will deliberate on whether the party will benefit from me contesting the elections," he said. The 42-year-old said that Nitish Kumar also asked him about his wish to contest the assembly elections - likely in November - even as he was already a Union Minister. Nitish Kumar also said that in the coming days, Mr Paswan was going to have a big role in Bihar politics. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president told Nitish Kumar that he would contest the assembly elections only if the party and the people of Bihar wanted him to. He also said that if that happens, he would come to seek the blessings of the Chief Minister of Bihar. The conversation can be read in many ways - 1st, Nitish Kumar's party JD(U) was unable to understand why Chirag Paswan wants to contest the upcoming elections - could it spoil their poll calculation? There's also another speculation that Mr Paswan was playing the politics of pressure in the NDA so that he could get more seats. However, the Hajipur MP has insisted that he wasn't concerned about the number of seats, and he only wants winnable seats. Mr Kumar's question for Mr Paswan is evidence of sorts that Chirag Paswan remains a puzzle for the JDU. Especially, since he has been saying that he wanted to contest the Bihar assembly elections, but hasn't even revealed his cards and has been putting the onus on the party. This will also be the first assembly election when Mr Paswan and his party will seek votes for Nitish Kumar. The LJP leader is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition that runs the federal government. His party has five Lok Sabha MPs. In the last election, Chirag Paswan fought alone and ruined the poll plan of the JDU. In the last election, Nitish Kumar's JDU and Lalu Prasad's RJD fought the polls together. Mr Paswan was a BJP ally at that time, too. But this time around, he would have to convince the voters to vote for Nitish Kumar. In the Lok Sabha polls, Mr Paswan sought votes in the name of PM Modi, but in the Bihar assembly polls, he will have to seek votes in the name of the Chief Minister. On a surface level, what seems like a non-issue could translate into a problem. Mr Paswan has been vocal about the policies of the Bihar government, especially on the issues of Dalits and law and order - issues that could inconvenience the JD(U).
NDTV
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
JNU Students Union Vs Administration: PhD Entrance, UGC-NET Ban At Core
New Delhi: As the hunger strike by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) enters its fourth day, the standoff between the union and the administration intensifies over the demand to reinstate the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) for PhD admissions, as well as a rollback of the university's decision to bar June 2025 UGC-NET aspirants. The indefinite strike called by the union office-bearers continues even as Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit has said that the university's deans are not in favor of conducting the in-house test. In an open letter dated June 26, JNUSU's President Nitish Kumar, Vice President Manisha, and General Secretary Munteha Fatima wrote to the Vice Chancellor of an assurance allegedly made during a 17-day hunger strike last August, to reinstate JNUEE for the 2025-26 academic session. They accused the administration of ignoring feedback from academic units and using excuses of "lack of funds" to stall the entrance test. The students argued this undermines equitable admissions and benefits ideological affiliates of the RSS and ABVP. They also expressed frustration at repeated refusals by the VC to meet them, charging that her insistence on having all four office bearers present was undemocratic. Responding on June 27, Vice Chancellor Pandit stated that she had asked all deans last year to take responsibility for conducting JNUEE, but none provided any written commitment. "Many deans opted for NET and CUET instead," she wrote, citing their wider reach and improved participation of reserved categories. She noted, as a democratic head of the institution she had to respect their decision. Denying the charge of apathy, the Vice Chancellor said she had met all four union members earlier, adding that for future discussions all four members of JNUSU should be present (referring to ABVP-affiliated JNUSU member). "JNUSU is a panel of four members, and anyone left out makes it undemocratic," she said. In their response, the three protesting Left-affiliated JNUSU office-bearers questioned the VC's claim, arguing that several deans and chairpersons had in fact expressed support for JNUEE. The union maintains that the administration is unfairly shifting the responsibility for organising the exam onto the deans. They also demanded clarity on the Rs 5,000 per-student cost estimate for conducting JNUEE. The union has written seeking a comprehensive meeting with university authorities, including representatives of the JNU Teachers' Association to address what they call a "fragmented" and "exclusionary" admission process. While also rejecting the VC's insistence on the presence of the fourth union member-Joint Secretary Vaibhav Meena, who supports CUET/NET, and has not been part of their campaign. Meanwhile, JNU has already opened its online PhD applications for the current academic year, with the submission window running from June 26 to July 7. Viva-voce rounds are scheduled for the end of July, and the first merit list is expected on August 11. As the hunger strike at Sabarmati T-point continues, JNUSU president Nitish Kumar, Vice President Manisha, and General Secretary Munteha Fatima maintain that their protest would go on until the administration agrees to reinstate the JNUEE and engage in a wider, transparent dialogue on admissions policy.
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Vizag lacks premier training institutes for Engg & Tech students
The rapidly developing Visakhapatnam city lacks premier training institutes for engineering and technology students as they move to other places like Hyderabad and Bangalore to explore their knowledge in advanced courses as per the market demand. The existing educational institutions also lack adequate laboratories for the specific domains chosen by the students. Stakeholders including the state and central governments have been urged to focus on these major challenges in Visakhapatnam, which is the largest city in AP, and the governments are also focusing on making the city the Financial Capital. A (Electronics) student S. Nitish Kumar said, 'I did not find any options to go for training in my specific domains in the city. My seniors and faculty suggested me to join institutes like C-DAC, but did not find any such institute. It would be useful and beneficial for many students like me if the state government focuses on setting up such institutes.' C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is the premier scientific institute of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, known for its advanced computing and IT training programmes. It offers various postgraduate diploma courses, including the popular PG-DAC (Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Computing), which aims to bridge the industry-academic skill gap. Agreeing with Mr. Nitish, GITAM Deemed-to-be University's Electrical, Electronics & Communications Department P. Bharani Chandra Kumar, said, 'Yes, Visakhapatnam does not have at least one leading training institute. As per the current market conditions, the city urgently needs a premier training institute related to Artificial Intelligence, as AI is currently an adjunct to every B. Tech program. Every student should have knowledge of Computer Science and its advanced applications and AI.' Some educationists are of the opinion that engineering education should not rely solely on theory, but should emphasise practical learning through well-equipped laboratories. Advanced laboratories should be created, and the existing laboratories should be continuously upgraded and guided by industry-experienced teaching professors as outlined in the National Education Policy. 'Strengthening the laboratory infrastructure will help students acquire better practical skills and be industry-ready without the need for external training elsewhere. If the laboratories are properly equipped, students can acquire knowledge at the college level itself. To be honest, no educational institution, including government and private ones, has such advanced laboratories with expertise in the laboratory itself in Visakhapatnam,' said a senior professor from Andhra University, who did not want to be named. Speaking to The Hindu, Rushikonda IT Park Association vice-president O. Naresh Kumar, said, 'The proposal for a C-DAC Visakhapatnam centre was made in 2014 itself, but there has been no progress even today. Since the current Centre-State relations are good due to the coalition government, this is the right time to focus on it. Apart from C-DAC, Vizag also needs a Nixi, national internet exchange of India.' There are about 30 engineering colleges in the city and only five of them have more than 1500 students in various programmes. Eom
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"BJP's tactics of spreading fear not going to work" Tejashwi Yadav
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 29 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal leader (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday slammed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while countering the ruling alliance's 'Jungle Raj' jibe, saying that their 'tactics of spreading fear are not going to work'. The State faces assembly elections later in the year. Addressing at the Vaishya Representative Conference in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led NDA alliance in Bihar over trade and asserted that never talk about those issues but only about jungle raj. 'We have been in opposition for the last 20 years, and they are still crying over us. Why are they not taking accountability for their work? What have they done? What's their blueprint to increase trade in Bihar? How will they make small enterprises more beneficial? They'll never talk about that. They will say that Jungle Raaj will come. I have also been the Deputy CM for 18 months. Did the people not come out of their homes? BJP's tactics of spreading fear are not going to work in this age,' Tejashwi Yadav said. Tejashwi Yadav also highlighted Bihar's increasing poverty, unemployment and crime rates. 'If you will look at the NITI Aayog's report, Bihar is no.1 in poverty, migration, and unemployment. There are no industries. If they (the NDA government) had even opened one sugar mill, then you tell me. Bihar is at the bottom in terms of education and health. NCRB's data says that after 2005, crime has continuously increased. What steps have been taken to create a safer environment? Has the chief minister visited any victim's house to share their grief?' Tejashwi Yadav said. Tejashwi Yadav reaffirmed that the RJD want to give Bihar a government that prioritises education, healthcare, income, and many other issues, while firing shots at Nitish Kumar, saying that there is neither justice nor development in Bihar. 'We want to give Bihar a government where there is education, healthcare, income, irrigation, listening, and action. Today, there is neither listening nor action. Today, you can go anywhere and see that there is immense corruption. Nitish Kumar talks about Jungle Raj, but gives parole to such criminals who keep AK-47 at their house. Today, there is neither justice nor development in Bihar... We have always stood with the public of the state,' Yadav said. Ahead of the Assembly Election in Bihar, Leaders of the BJP, Janata Dal-United JD (U) and other constituents of the NDA have been reminding people of Bihar of 'jungle raj' under Lalu Prasad, saying there was a significant neglect of infrastructure, including roads, electricity, healthcare, and education. RJD leaders, on their part, have said that people will vote for change in Bihar polls and that the state continues to face problems of poverty and unemployment. (ANI)
