Nitish Kumar meets Vijay Chaudhary as MLC poll activity gathers pace in Bihar

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Patna, June 1 (IANS) Political activity has intensified in Bihar’s capital, Patna, as preparations for the upcoming Legislative Council elections gather pace.

Janata Dal (United) National President and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday visited the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary to finalise the plan and discuss the names of the candidates.

Earlier, Nitish Kumar had a similar meeting with JD(U) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha in Patna.

The nomination for 10 vacant seats in the Bihar Legislative Council started on Monday. Against this backdrop, discussions regarding seat-sharing within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are said to be nearing completion.

Sources indicate that out of the ten seats, around four may fall within the JD(U)’s share. Consequently, competition for party nominations has intensified, with several senior leaders and aspirants actively lobbying for the same.

Political observers believe that the JD(U) leadership is currently focused on finalising its list of candidates while carefully balancing social and regional equations. The party is expected to take into account factors such as caste representation, organisational contributions, and electoral strategy before making its final selections.

Amid growing speculation, one name has emerged prominently in political discussions. Party insiders suggest that preparations may be underway to nominate Health Minister Nishant Kumar to the Legislative Council from the JD(U)’s quota. However, no official confirmation has been issued by the party, and leaders have remained tight-lipped on the matter.

Despite the absence of a formal announcement, the possibility continues to dominate political conversations. For the remaining seats, the party is reportedly working toward maintaining a broad social and political balance.

Consideration is being given to providing representation to backward classes, extremely backward classes, minority communities, and long-serving party workers who have contributed significantly to strengthening the organisation over the years.

The series of meetings and consultations in Patna has sent a clear signal that the JD(U) has shifted into election mode and is actively shaping its strategy for the Legislative Council polls.

–IANS

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Kolkata Police enhance security arrangements for Christmas, New Year celebrations

Kolkata, Dec 24 (IANS) Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Kolkata to avert any untoward situation during Christmas and New Year festivities, said officials on Thursday.

The Kolkata Police headquarters has decided to deploy 1,500 police personnel on the streets of Kolkata, and the deployment will continue till late Thursday evening.

According to a senior official of the city police, the security arrangement has been made elaborate, not just keeping in mind the massive footfall but also to prevent any trickling effect of the continuing violence in neighbouring Bangladesh that might spoil the festive mood.

Senior city police officers in the ranks of deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, and inspectors of police would also be on the streets in shifts during the entire period, starting from Wednesday evening to Thursday night.

The forces deployed on the streets will operate under direct supervision from the police control rooms, which will be manned by officers in the ranks of joint commissioners and additional commissioners.

As expected, the party hub of Park Street in central Kolkata and its adjacent locations will have maximum security deployment attention. Similar deployments will be at the different churches in the city from Wednesday evening.

An all-women wing of the city police will be deployed round-the-clock to prevent events of harassment of women and cases of eve-teasing.

Four to five watchtowers have already been installed in the Park Street area. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and Heavy Radio Flying Squads (HRFS) will also be present on Park Street during the period from Wednesday evening to Thursday night.

Besides the Park Street area, police personnel will also be deployed at the Zoological Garden in Alipore, Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Maidan, and other popular tourist spots.

“There will be an adequate number of women police personnel, plain-dress sleuths, and combat teams. Special protection and surveillance arrangements have been made in the important churches in the city. Checking points will be there at several entry points to the city,” a senior police official said.

Besides the police, the state Disaster Management Department has kept its teams ready for any emergency. Trauma-care ambulances and deployment of life-saving disaster management teams at the river points in and around the city are part of the security arrangements. The personnel of the River Traffic Police will conduct constant patrolling on the water through speedboats.

–IANS

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Dramatic protest in Jhansi: Chains, placards, and a buffalo lead power outage outcry

Jhansi, May 24 (IANS) In a strikingly theatrical protest that captured both attention and imagination, politicians and activists from various parties in Jhansi took to the streets to highlight the ongoing power crisis gripping the region.

With relentless power cuts and an overwhelmed grid, frustration has reached such a peak that former Union Minister Pradeep Jain Aditya and fellow demonstrators turned to symbolism and satire.

At the centre of the protest, held at Jhansi’s bustling Elite Chauraha, was a buffalo. Yes, a buffalo.

As a local man passed through the protest site with his buffalo, demonstrators seized the moment. A placard labelled “Electricity Department” was swiftly hung around the animal’s neck. In what became the image of the day, Pradeep Jain Aditya, armed with a flute-like been, stood in front of the buffalo and began playing—mimicking the traditional act of a snake charmer.

The message through metaphor: “Bhains ke aage been bajana”—blowing the flute before a buffalo, a popular Hindi proverb used to describe efforts wasted on an unresponsive audience (Electricity Department).

“This is symbolic,” Jain told reporters. “We are not harming the animal. In fact, even buffalo are suffering due to this heat and power outage. This isn’t just about humans anymore,” he argued.

The protest, marked by symbolic shackles and dramatic gestures, came after days of unrest. Locals say that despite Bundelkhand producing significant electricity, barely 10 per cent of it reaches cities like Jhansi.

One protester chained himself in symbolic bondage, holding signs that read: “Give us power or jail us instead.”

Jain, who has been spearheading the protest with support from multiple political parties and social groups, said, “The government is in a Kumbhkarni slumber while people here suffer through blackouts and unbearable heat. Today, we blew the ‘flute’ in front of the system. But this is the last symbolic protest. Next, we’ll take this to the streets and to every doorstep.”

Critics tried to spin the protest as animal cruelty, but Jain responded sharply. “Why don’t you ask the government about cows dying from neglect?” he questioned.

“This buffalo, too, is a victim of the same system. She stood with us because she’s suffering in this heat just like the people.”

The protest, dramatic and unusual as it was, echoed a larger sentiment – one of fatigue, desperation, and a demand to be heard.

As Jhansi simmers in the summer sun with little electricity and even less response from authorities, the question remains: will blowing the ‘been (flute)’ finally wake the powers that be?

“Only time and power supply will tell,” say protestors.

–IANS

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​7-day state mourning declared in Assam in honour of Manmohan Singh

Guwahati, Dec 27 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced a 7-day state mourning in honour of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who passed away on Thursday.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that all official entertainment programs have been cancelled for the next seven days.

Taking to X handle, Sarma wrote, “As a mark of respect to Dr Manmohan Singh Ji, Former Prime Minister of India, Government of Assam will observe 7-day state mourning from 26.12.2024 to 01.01.2025. During this period the national flag will fly at half mast at all state government establishments and all official entertainment programs stand cancelled.”

Sarma, earlier on Thursday, expressed condolence over the passing away of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Taking to X, Sarma wrote, “I have had the privilege of knowing Dr Manmohan Singh ji since 1991 when he was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, a state he represented for 28 years. Dr Sahab embodied humility and never surrendered to the trappings of power. In all my interactions with him, his simplicity and decency combined with his intellectual prowess always stood out.”

“During his tenure as Prime Minister, I have had the opportunity to interact with him on several occasions regarding issues pertaining to Assam, and he always gave us a patient hearing and displayed a strong conviction towards social issues. Coming from humble origins in post-partition India, he served the nation in several distinguished positions,” Sarma added.

He further said, “A generation of Indians will always remember his pivotal role in ushering in a free market economy and ending decades of regressive socialist policies. In his demise, the nation has lost a great patriot, an exceptional scholar, an unconventional politician and a fine statesman. My deepest condolences to Gursharan Madam, his family and well wishers. Om Shanti.”

Dr Manmohan Singh, renowned economist and architect of India’s economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi following a deterioration in his health.

–IANS

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