Latest news with #JD(U)'
Hindustan Times
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
JD(U) begins women outreach drive
After the BJP, its alliance partner JD(U)'s women's wing has launched an intensive public outreach campaign — from the state to the booth level — to connect with the state's women voters as the assembly polls in the state are drawing near. JD(U) begins women outreach drive Women form nearly 48% of the total voting population. As against BJP's women outreach plan aimed at covering 120 assembly segments in first phase, the JD(U) has started its campaign to reach out to women across the state and in all constituencies simultaneously. The party held an important meeting of women leaders recently in which state party president Umesh Kushwaha held a detailed discussion keeping the goal of '225 seats in 2025 and Nitish again' at the centre. 'A strategy was decided to strengthen the organisation, ensure active participation of women workers and accelerate the work of the party at the grassroots level. It was also decided that the women's unit of JD(U) will run an extensive public relations campaign and will take the welfare schemes and developmental achievements of the government to the people,' said Kushwaha. 'Under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, Bihar has witnessed transformative initiatives aimed at women empowerment, bringing remarkable changes to their lives. Landmark measures such as free education for girls from KG to post-graduation, prohibition of alcohol, free bicycles for school-going girls, 35% reservation for women in government jobs, and 50% reservation in panchayat elections have significantly uplifted the status of women across the state,' said Anupriya Yadav, JD(U) state spokesperson. The JD (U) does not want to leave these achievements and works go unnoticed. 'To further spread awareness of these achievements, the women's wing of JD(U) has launched a campaign wherein female party workers will visit every district, engaging women through community talks, door-to-door visits, and seminars. This outreach aims to ensure that the positive impact of CM Nitish Kumar's policies is communicated effectively, inspiring more women to take advantage of these opportunities. Such initiatives not only showcase progressive governance but also pave the way for a more inclusive and empowered Bihar,' said Anupriya Yadav. The JD(U) feels that Kumar's contribution to the welfare and upliftment of women is unmatched in any other state of the country. Earlier, Kumar himself, in a bid to reach out to women voters, had launched 'Mahila Samvad Rath' under which JD(U) workers visited different districts of Bihar and inform women about the efforts made by the Nitish government to uplift their socio-economic condition. The campaign also highlighted the schemes related to women's empowerment, employment, and education. The Nitish government is also relying heavily on the members of the 10.75 lakh women self-help groups (SHGs) to 'act as a link' between the JD(U) and women voters, a party leader said, adding that 'women are the political force of the JD(U)'. 'Though the women voters are not taken seriously by parties, they have turned out to be the decisive voters in the recent Bihar Assembly elections 2020. This was the third time consecutively when women had outnumbered the men voters. In three phases of Bihar elections, women voters' turnout increased consistently from the first phase to the third phase. In the first phase, they voted 5% more than men, in the second phase 6%, and in the third phase, they outnumbered men by 11% benefitting NDA the most,' said Gyananendra Yadav, associate professor of Sociology, College of Commerce, Patna.
India.com
23-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Not Candidates, But Casts Matter In These Bihar Assembly Seats
Bihar has always been a state where caste equations trump political dynamics. Caste influence remains a defining factor in its electoral outcomes in the state. As the state gears up for Assembly polls later this year, political parties and alliances are stepping up with promises and freebies to attract voters. The NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has announced schemes like free electricity and increased monthly pension for women in an effort to woo the electorate. Kumar has also increased reservations in the government jobs for women. However, Bihar's political equations are not that simple. In this state, caste continues to dominate the political narrative. Over the years, many political parties have fielded candidates primarily based on caste backgrounds. Among the total 243 Assembly seats, several constituencies are known for consistently electing candidates from specific castes, whether General, OBC, SC, or ST. Yadav Influence In Bihar Politics The Yadav community, constituting around 14 per cent of the state's population, has been a powerful political bloc, especially supportive of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Both in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Yadav candidates who mostly belong to RJD have secured victories in numerous constituencies over the past few polls. The Maner Assembly Constituency has consistently elected Yadav candidates. Since 2010, RJD's Bhai Virendra Yadav has been the sitting MLA. On the other hand, the Paliganj Assembly Seat was won by RJD's Jai Vardhan Yadav in 2015. In 2020, Sandeep Yadav of CPI (ML) secured the seat, reflecting ongoing Yadav influence. The Mahua assembly seat has also remained a Yadav-dominated seat, notably bagged by Tej Pratap Yadav in 2015. The Raghopur seat, once held by Lalu and Rabri Devi, was won by JD(U)'s Satish Kumar Yadav in 2010. However, Tejashwi Yadav reclaimed the seat in 2015, reinforcing the family's stronghold. Raghopur and Mahua are politically symbolic for the RJD due to their association with Lalu Prasad Yadav's family. Paswan Community Influence The Paswan community, a dominant Scheduled Caste group, has strongholds in several SC-reserved constituencies. Rajnagar Assembly Seat (Madhubani) has consistently elected Ram Prit Paswan of the BJP, showcasing the community's influence and the party's strong presence. Rajput Community Strongholds The Rajput community remains a dominant upper-caste group, especially in western and central Bihar. From 1990 to 2005, Ramdhani Singh, a Rajput leader, held the seat. However, again in 2010 and 2015, JD(U)'s Jai Kumar Singh, also a Rajput, was elected from the seat. Kayastha Community's Urban Influence The Kayastha community is numerically smaller, but it remains politically significant because of its urban influence. They don't dominate any seat demographically, but often play a kingmaker role. Key constituencies where Kayastha influence is notable include Kumhrar and Bankipur in Patna.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dalai Lama turns 90: PM Modi extends wishes; calls him 'a symbol of love, compassion and patience'
PTI image NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wished the Tibetan spiritual leader , the 14th Dalai Lama , on his 90th birthday. He called him a symbol of 'love, compassion, patience and moral discipline.' In a post on X, PM Modi prayed for the Dalai Lama's good health and long life. — narendramodi (@narendramodi) Tibetan Buddhist monks living in exile held special prayers at the Dorjidak Monastery near Shimla to celebrate his 90th birthday. Several leaders, including BJP's Vijay Jolly and JD(U)'s Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, attended his 90th birthday celebration on Saturday in Dharamshala to honour him. The 14th Dalai Lama, known to Tibet ans as Gyalwa Rinpoche, is their highest spiritual leader and the head of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935, in the small village of Takster in northeastern Tibet. At the age of two, he was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. In 1939, he was taken to Lhasa and formally installed as Tibet's head of state in February 1940. His birth name was Lhamo Dhondup. He was later named Tenzin Gyatso and began his monastic education at age six. 'Dalai Lama' is a Mongolian term meaning 'Ocean of Wisdom.' In Tibetan Buddhism , Dalai Lamas are seen as the human form of the Bodhisattva of compassion, enlightened beings who are chosen to take rebirth and help others. The Dalai Lama took full political power in 1950 after China invaded Tibet in 1949. In 1959, after a failed uprising, he fled to India with over 80,000 followers. For more than 60 years, he has worked to promote peace, love and compassion.
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
From Chirag Paswan to Prashant Kishor: Why smaller parties could be a game changer in Bihar
Smaller and minor political parties play a crucial role — often underappreciated — in competitive and volatile electoral democracies. These parties contribute to political pluralism, deepen representative democracy and mediate between region-specific interests and the national polity. Although they are more effective in proportional representation electoral systems, they are also important stakeholders in the first-past-the-post system (FPTP). Modest or marginal vote shares by smaller parties can influence the results by splitting votes, acting as spoilers, or becoming coalition partners. Much like in European politics, smaller parties shape electoral alliances, influence bargaining dynamics through negotiation and consensus-building. In doing this, democracies resemble what political scientist Arend Lijphart termed 'consociational' systems – power-sharing arrangements particularly suited to ethnically and socially divided societies. India is no exception. Its regional and minor parties have consistently reflected layered social, political and party cleavages in both state and national elections, especially since 1991. As Bihar inches towards the assembly election, the significant role of the smaller regional parties needs to be examined. One of the reasons the 2020 assembly elections in Bihar went down to the wire was the strong showing by smaller and state-specific parties. 11 seats were decided by under a thousand votes, and 26 seats by margins between 1 per cent and 2.5 per cent, including the victory of JD (U)'s Krishna Murari Sharan (Prem Mukhiya), who won the Hilsa assembly constituency just by 12 votes, the narrowest margin in Bihar's history for at least 14 elections. While the primary contest was between the NDA led by the BJP and JD(U), and the Mahagathbandhan led by RJD, Congress and the Left, several smaller parties such as Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (Upendra Kushwaha), the Jan Adhikar Party (Pappu Yadav), AIMIM contested in the constituencies where their caste or community have formidable influence. Despite their seat tallies being modest, they widened the contest and splintered traditional vote banks. Given the widely dispersed social cleavages as reflected in the Bihar Caste Survey, the 2025 elections are going to be intensely competitive and hyper-local. Among the smaller political outfits, the LJP (Ram Vilas) led by Chirag Paswan is fast emerging as a pivotal force, especially after its impressive performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As an aspirational Dalit leader, Chirag Paswan commands political influence among Paswan Dalit communities – they comprise 5.31 per cent of the state's population — in constituencies like Vaishali, Jamui, Khagaria, Samastipur, and Begusarai. His growing popularity with the slogan 'Bihar First, Bihari First' and his attempt to galvanise a broad social coalition could decisively boost NDA prospects. Also, the HAM (Secular) under Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Dalit grassroots leader, remains a significant political asset for the NDA despite its modest 0.87 per cent vote share in 2020. Its influence among Musahar Dalits, who comprise 3.08 per cent of the population, and other Extremely Backwards Castes (EBC) in Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, and Nawada means a handful of seats won by HAM(S) could prove decisive in close contests. Similarly, the VIP led by Nishad caste leader Mukesh Sahni continues to be a notable player. As a crucial constituent of the EBC bloc (36.1 per cent), the Mallaahs (2.61 per cent) represent an important political force in riverine constituencies across Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamarhi and Madhubani. Sahni's narrative, centred on empowering Mallah Samaj (comprising Nishad, Kevat and related castes) and his realignment with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, makes him significant. However, the most intriguing development is the emergence of celebrity political strategist Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj Party (JSP). In the 2024 by-poll debut, it secured nearly 10 per cent of votes across four constituencies, with Jitendra Paswan polling 20 per cent in Imamganj constituency. Beyond the ambit of prevalent identity politics, and solely focusing on governance, JSP's statewide 'Bihar Badlav Yatra' seems to have amplified its grassroots reach. While it lacks the momentum and resources to upend Bihar's political order like AAP did in Delhi, rural disaffection and youth grievances against both alliances could shape its political future. On the other side, the AIMIM, regionally led by Akhtarul Iman, made an entry into Bihar politics in 2020 by winning five of the 20 seats it contested, mostly in the Muslim-majority Seemanchal region. With a 1.24 per cent vote share, AIMIM has built influence in Kishanganj, Araria, Purina, and Katihar, directly challenging RJD vis-a-vis Muslim voters. Despite the BJP's campaign against 'infiltrators', it might impact the Mahagathbandhan's base. Other smaller parties like the Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) headed by Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, an independent Yadav politician, retain a modest presence in districts like Purnia, Madhepura, Supaul, Araria and Parts of Katihar and Kishanganj. Similarly, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) under veteran leader Upendra Kushwaha continues to wield influence among Kushwaha/Koeri voters (4.27 per cent of the state's population) in Karakat, Buxar, Nalanda and Jehanabad, making him a major ally of NDA. In this hyper-local electoral scenario in Bihar, unless it swings like Maharashtra, a few thousand decisive votes in multi-cornered contests can turn minor players into a post-poll kingmaker. Though BJP, RJD and JD(U) remain formidable players in the game, collectively, these smaller parties, including the CP1(ML), CPI, and CPM, representing significant Dalit, OBC, EBC and minority blocs, will likely determine the composition of Bihar's consociational, coalition-driven government formation. Ashwani Kumar is a professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences and author of Community Warriors: State, Peasants, and Caste Armies in Bihar. Views are personal
India Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
PM meets Op Sindoor delegates who took India's stand against terrorism global
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met members of the seven multi-party delegations that recently travelled to over 30 countries to highlight India's strong stance against terrorism following Operation meeting took place at the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi. Delegation members, including MPs from across party lines, former parliamentarians and senior diplomats, shared their experiences of engaging with foreign leaders and representatives during their outreach. The seven multi-party delegations recently travelled to over 30 countries and spoke about India's anti-terror operation. advertisementThe delegations had been sent as part of India's diplomatic campaign to draw attention to the Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent response. Each group visited key capitals around the world to underline India's resolve against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and reinforce the country's commitment to global peace. "The visit was aimed at projecting national unity and ensuring the global community hears one voice from India on terrorism," said a government official earlier. The outreach is part of a larger effort to counter Pakistan's attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue while downplaying cross-border 50 individuals were part of the outreach mission, including current and former MPs and ex-diplomats. Among the leaders who headed the delegations were BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, DMK's Kanimozhi, and NCP(SP)'s Supriya Sule. The presence of leaders from the opposition as well as the ruling alliance lent the initiative a bipartisan External Affairs Ministry had earlier appreciated the teams for representing India's stance effectively in international forums. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also held a separate interaction with the delegates last week, praising their role in building global awareness about the threat of terrorism emanating from delegation had a specific regional focus — from the US and Europe to the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Discussions ranged from counterterrorism cooperation to strategic partnerships, with the Indian teams also addressing concerns related to misinformation and government's decision to send inclusive delegations, featuring MPs like Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Manish Tewari (Congress), and Prem Chand Gupta (RJD), was widely seen as an attempt to present a unified front on an issue of national Prime Minister's interaction with the delegates capped off a significant phase of India's diplomatic offensive post-Operation Sindoor.
