'This election was won because of Nitish Kumar's face and his policies.'
Electoral fortunes of 1,302 candidates, including over half a dozen ministers in the Nitish Kumar government, will be sealed on Tuesday with 3.70 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise across 122 assembly segments in the second and final phase of the Bihar polls.
'The name will be declared at the right time.'
Riding on a hat-trick by Nigerian striker Odafa Okolie, Churchill Brothers defeated Chirag United 4-2 in their 15th round match of the ONGC I-league football championships at Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday.
The opposition INDIA bloc has declared RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
Amidst speculation over the NDA seat-sharing deal in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar distributed JD(U) tickets, while the BJP announced its first list of candidates. The INDIA bloc also faces internal challenges as parties prepare for the upcoming elections.
The National Democratic Alliance was set to sweep the Bihar assembly polls, surging ahead in over 200 of 243 seats on Friday with the Bharatiya Janata Party emerging as single largest party with about 90 per cent strike rate, reaffirming the popularity and campaign clout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the face of the ruling alliance through the poll battle in the highly sensitive political state.
Pailan Arrows defeated Chirag United Kerala 3-0 to register their first win in the I-League.
Having struck a seat-sharing deal, leaders of the Janata Dal-United and the Bharatiya Janata Party sat across the table in Patna on Monday to thrash out, among other things, constituencies they planned to swap or give up in favour of smaller allies in Bihar.
The first phase of Bihar assembly elections saw a moderate pace of polling across 121 constituencies, with 53.77% voter turnout reported till 3 pm. Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported. Key leaders are in the fray for both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc.
A double strike by striker Joshimar helped Chirag United beat Salgaocar SC 2-0 and jump to the top of the table in the ONGC I-League at the Vidyasagar Stadium in Barasat on Friday.
Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas leader Chirag Paswan has decided to return to the National Democratic Alliance, Bharatiya Janata Party chief J P Nadda announced on Monday, hours after Paswan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a day before the crucial meeting of the ruling coalition.
Internal discord within the INDIA bloc has led to alliance partners contesting against each other in at least eight assembly seats in Bihar. The Congress, RJD, and Left parties are facing challenges in seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming elections.
With nominations for the first phase of Bihar elections closing soon, the INDIA bloc is struggling to finalize seat sharing, while the NDA has announced its candidates. Key political figures are actively campaigning.
Sources said Paswan's party may contest on five of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.
Left to its machinations, the BJP would have loved to cut Nitish down to size, but it can't afford to do so as the JD-U is in alliance with the BJP at the Centre, and cannot form a government on its own in Bihar. For now, both need each other: Nitish for legitimacy, the BJP for numbers, points out Ramesh Menon.
Brazilian striker Edmilson nicely converted a free-kick to help Chirag United come from behind and hold Dempo 1-1 in their 10th round match of I-League football tournament at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Confusion prevailing in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) showed little signs of let up on Saturday, with just two days to go before the filing of nomination papers for the second and final phase of assembly elections comes to a close.
''Now the roads in Bihar are as good as any other Indian state. The power sector has improved.' 'Connectivity, law and order, gender justice...' 'Bihar now stands for all these things that were totally absent when it was under jungle raj.'
Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Saturday said he will contest the next Lok Sabha polls from Hajipur, rebuffing his nephew Chirag Paswan who has staked claim on late father Ram Vilas Paswan's constituency.
Air-India's patented try this, try that tactics to unsettle the opposition clicked again on Saturday as they managed to beat a superior Chirag United by a solitary goal in a fourth round I-League match at the Cooperage in Mumbai. The all-important strike came from the boots of medio Surojit Roy from another patented long throw in by Uttam Singh from the right flank in the 71st minute.
While it is evident that the INDIA bloc has not shut its doors on Nitish Kumar, those within the NDA are hopeful that the JD-U's support base would benefit them as well
India defender Pritam Kotal joins the Marina Machans
If he cannot do it this term by using his bureaucracy and experts from different fields, it will be a tragedy, asserts Ramesh Menon.
This is the first time a JD-U leader has openly expressed fears about the party's future.
Owing to uncertainties on higher inflation and muted growth in the United States (US), coupled with concerns around America's rising debt and tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, the world's largest economy has become the epicentre of an unabated record rally in prices of precious metals.
The point from the 21st round I-League match was a good enough result for the Mumbai side, who made sure they are safe from relegation. It took their tally to 28 and moved them up to fifth position, while Chirag, with 23 points, have not ensured safety and will have to hope for the best in their last round match against already-relegated Vasco Sports Club in Goa.
An analysis of the upcoming Bihar elections, focusing on the key players, alliances, and issues that will shape the outcome. The article examines the strength of the ruling NDA coalition led by Nitish Kumar and the challenge posed by the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, as well as the potential impact of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party.
Mohammed Rafi scored two goals but Kolkata's Chirag United came from behind on both the occasion to earn a 2-2 draw in their I-League fifth round clash against Mahindra United at the Cooperage ground on Tuesday.
A fine hat-trick by willy Brazilian striker Jose Ramirez Barreto guided champions Mohun Bagan to a 3-1 drubbing of Chirag United in their second outing of the IFA Premier division football league in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Each leader will look after six assembly constituencies.
Most of these leaders are known for their organisational skills and successful management of elections in their respective states.
The BJP's MoSha leadership are past masters in encouraging defections from their allies if it helped their party capture the chief minister's chair. In Bihar, they are not sure if JD-U MPs and MLAs would be willing to cross over to the BJP if the Nitish leadership came on top -- and the NDA crossed the halfway mark together, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
'Many are saying that some significant announcement regarding Jammu and Kashmir or even separate statehoods might come; that possibility cannot be ruled out given today's date.'
'No one can ignore PK's prediction about Nitish Kumar's party.'
In a thrilling match that saw swinging fortunes, Chirag United SC did well to fight back and hold Air India 3-3 in their round three I-League encounter at the floodlit Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK) in Kolkata on Tuesday.
This will be the first time the BJP has got more seats than Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD-U in Bihar, underscoring the change in their equations after they joined hands a few months back.
'Nitish Kumar is our CM today and he will be CM going forward also. Nitish Kumar will continue as CM till he wishes.'
Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday dropped hints that the Mahagathbandhan helmed by his party might bring on board former Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, whom the National Democratic Alliance has sidelined in favour of estranged nephew Chirag Paswan.
Exigencies of electoral politics and individual ambitions often stoke family feuds and sibling rivalries.
'People are fed up with rising crimes and poor law and order.' 'Modi must have got feedback and decided not to touch the 'jungle raj' issue as it will backfire.'
