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Bihar RJD chief Mangani Lal Mandal hospitalised in Delhi for liver treatment

Patna, Feb 4 (IANS) Bihar Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Mangani Lal Mandal was admitted to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) Hospital in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, on Wednesday for treatment related to a liver ailment.

Confirming the development, Bihar RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed said that Mandal has been undergoing treatment in New Delhi for the past few days and is currently under the medical supervision of Dr S. K. Sarin, a senior liver specialist at ILBS.

Doctors are closely monitoring Mandal, who is suffering from a liver-related illness.

Several leaders and workers of the Rashtriya Janata Dal have expressed their concern and prayers for his speedy recovery.

Messages wishing him good health have poured in from across the party.

Mandal was appointed as the state president of RJD on June 19, 2025. He replaced Jagadanand Singh. Under his leadership, RJD contested the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

A senior and veteran leader of the party, Mandal has served as a minister during the governments led by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi. He was also a Lok Sabha MP from Jhanjharpur from 2009 to 2014.

He is regarded as an influential leader among backward caste communities, particularly in the Mithilanchal and Bhagalpur regions, and has played an active role in the party’s organisational and political affairs over the years.

Among those who wished for his speedy recovery are Rashtriya Janata Dal National General Secretary Binu Yadav, State Chief Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, State Spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed, State General Secretary Mukund Singh, Madan Sharma, Balli Yadav, Fayyaz Alam Kamal, Dr. Kumar Rahul Singh, Pramod Kumar Ram, Nirbhay Kumar Ambedkar, Bhai Arun Kumar, Sanjay Yadav, Dr Prem Kumar Gupta, Harendra Kumar Kushwaha, Chandeshwar Prasad Singh, Arvind Kumar Sahani, Kumar Rai, Upendra Chandravanshi, and other prominent leaders, who prayed for his quick recovery.

–IANS

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MP approves Rs 47 crore human-elephant conflict mitigation plan

Bhopal, May 13 (IANS) To reduce the recurring conflicts between humans and elephants, especially in southern Madhya Pradesh, where these animals frequently traverse a specific forest corridor and raid farmland, rural properties, and houses in the state, the government has come up with a Rs 47 crore Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation plan.

The state cabinet approved the plan on Tuesday.

As part of this initiative, local farmers and rural communities in areas prone to elephant encounters will be trained in effective strategies to handle sudden attacks.

They will learn techniques to safely drive elephants away from farms and minimise losses related to crops, property, and livelihoods, Urban Development Minister and government spokesperson Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

According to forest officials, over 150 wild elephants regularly inhabit the Bandhavgarh and Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserves. These elephants often migrate from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and enter human settlements, particularly tribal villages, increasing the risk of confrontation, crop losses, property damage, and safety concerns.

The project combines traditional and innovative methods, including chili-based deterrents, citrus plantations, trip alarms, and bee-hive fences.

Led by the Forest Department, it promotes coexistence by reducing conflict while ensuring both human and elephant welfare. A recent incident highlighted the urgency of managing this conflict.

Six months ago, 11 elephants perished after consuming a fungus-infected Kodo crop, allegedly cultivated by farmers. In retaliation, an enraged elephant trampled two individuals to death. Following this tragedy, the state initiated discussions on implementing effective elephant management strategies.

“The state is implementing tech-based measures such as radio bulletins, WhatsApp alerts, and a dedicated control room to inform villagers about elephant movements and guide them on handling encounters safely,” the Minister said.

The plan will also include the use of AI or satellite-based monitoring of elephant movements so that farmers can be alerted in advance.

Additional elephant populations have been identified in the forested regions of Rewa and Shahdol divisions, further underscoring the need for proactive measures.

–IANS

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‘BJP will not form govt with NC’: J&K LoP

Jammu, Oct 21 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma said on Tuesday that the BJP will not form a government with the National Conference (NC) under any circumstances.

Sharma was reacting to a recent statement made by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in which he said that the BJP is ‘punishing the people of J&K by delaying statehood because they are not in power here’.

The Chief Minister had also said that he would rather give up power than form the government with the BJP under any pressure.

Countering the Chief Minister’s statement, Sunil Sharma told reporters, “We will not form a government with the National Conference under any circumstances. We are not going to form a government on any condition.”

The LoP said that the claims made by the Chief Minister are completely baseless and are intended only to mislead the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The BJP leader added that the party is fully confident that, whether it is the Rajya Sabha elections, by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir, or the Bihar elections, the party is completely prepared for every contest.

“We have full faith in our people. Whether it is Bihar, Budgam, or Nagrota, the BJP will win,” he claimed.

He said that the Chief Minister also said that the BJP will indulge in horse-trading for the Rajya Sabha elections, but there is no truth to it.

“The Chief Minister is making hollow claims and merely trying to mislead the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he claimed.

Elections for four Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled on October 24 in J&K, and the members of the legislative assembly are to vote in this election.

As per the distribution of votes for these seats, the NC has an edge over the BJP on three seats, while the BJP has an edge on the fourth seat.

NC nominated four candidates for all four seats after the Congress declined the NC offer to field a Congress candidate for the 4th Rajya Sabha seat.

Congress wanted ‘safe’ seats for itself. After the NC refused to oblige, Congress decided not to field its candidate for these seats.

Two seats of the assembly, Nagrota in Jammu and Budgam in the Valley, are going to bypoll on November 11.

NC had offered Nagrota seat to Congress, but the offer was declined.

–IANS

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