From a Duleep Trophy hundred to a Player of the Match performance against Australia A, Kumar Kushagra's recent form has earned him his first India call-up.
'CM face ko lekar NDA mein koi confusion nahi hai, Nitish Kumar hi NDA ke CM face hai'.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J P Nadda and several other top leaders of the NDA.
'Nitish Kumar is fooling the people of Bihar.' 'He will not probe anything because if he does so, he will be trapped himself.'
'A tally less than 150, even if it is 120 or 130, shall be a defeat for me'
Mokama MLA Anant Singh, recently expelled from the Janata Dal (United) for six years, has announced his intention to form his own political party. Singh launched a scathing attack on the JD(U) leadership, claiming the party is "finished" and will struggle in future elections, though he maintained cordial personal ties with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. His expulsion, along with his wife Neelam Devi, was due to alleged anti-party activities, including campaigning for a rival candidate.
Call it political opportunism or sagacity, his moves, in effect, have not allowed the Bharatiya Janata Party to appoint its own chief minister to date, despite enjoying a near hegemonic status nationally and the best performance in recently held assembly polls where the saffron party bagged 89 seats, followed by the Janata Dal-United with 85.
Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj Party, secured a significant victory in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, breaching a BJP bastion, while independent candidates sharing names with Bihar's political stalwarts, Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, failed to make an impact and lost their security deposits.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has predicted that JD(U) president Nitish Kumar will contest the upcoming assembly polls in Bihar in alliance with the BJP but may switch sides later, with hopes for another term as the chief minister. Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, also asserted that Kumar's popularity has declined and he is unlikely to win a fifth consecutive term. He challenged the BJP to declare Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate, arguing that they would struggle to win seats if they did so. Kishor also criticized Kumar's leadership, accusing him of being "physically tired and mentally retired" and of "bringing disrepute to Bihar" by touching Prime Minister Narendra Modi's feet. He said his new party will enter the fray to pull Bihar "out of the political rut" and that the state's much-touted prohibition policy is an example of the BJP's duplicity.
Senior BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Choubey has expressed his desire to see Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the Deputy Prime Minister. However, the JD(U) and the RJD have dismissed Choubey's remarks as inconsequential, with the JD(U) pointing to Amit Shah's recent statement that Nitish Kumar is the coalition's leader for the upcoming assembly polls. The RJD has also ridiculed Choubey's statement, stating that the BJP is looking to get rid of Nitish Kumar and that Tejashwi Yadav will be the next Chief Minister of Bihar.
India pacer Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury, while fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been added to the India A squad for the second four-day game.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeking a fifth term, has asserted that he will remain in the NDA, crediting the BJP for his rise to power. Kumar, the JD(U) supremo, reiterated his stance at the Khelo India Youth Games. He has been a BJP ally since the mid-1990s but parted ways in 2013. Kumar's return to the NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha polls last year, after previously joining hands with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, has sparked debate about his political strategy.
'Every party want to contest more seats, nothing wrong in it. We have to compromise to take all together as the NDA.'
A crucial 69-run partnership between Tilak Varma (51* off 26) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (26 off 13) propelled India to a thrilling four-run victory over New Zealand in the second T20I, securing a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Patna to discuss election strategy. The meeting aims to dispel rumors of strained relations and solidify the NDA alliance ahead of upcoming assembly polls.
Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial candidate, alleges that Amit Shah's recent statement indicates BJP's plan to remove Nitish Kumar from power after the Bihar assembly elections.
JD-U MLA Anant Singh, a prominent 'strongman' in Bihar politics, has openly defied his party by campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh in the Patna Graduate constituency legislative council polls.
'If his health was good he would have become CM again after polls.' 'Those who are with Nitish Babu today will remain with him till the elections to use his name for votes and would definitely play games with him after the polls.'
'We made a mistake. We misunderstood. Now all is well.'
The Bihar chief minister had a point to prove in the latest assembly elections, which were held amid speculations of a fatigue factor, if not downright anti-incumbency, made worse by rumours of his indifferent health.
Nitish Kumar is poised to lead the NDA government in Bihar, with key political developments unfolding ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. The article covers the election of the NDA leader, cabinet allocation discussions, and reactions to the election results, including Prashant Kishor's claims and the family feud within Lalu Prasad's family.
'Nitishji as CM never supported the UCC and publicly expressed his strong reservations over UCC.'
India has announced its squads for the upcoming two-Test and five-ODI series against New Zealand. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named in the Test squad, subject to fitness clearance, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah returns for the Test leg. Shubman Gill will captain the Test side and the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer leading the final two ODIs.
The third and final unofficial Test between New Zealand A and India A concluded in a draw after persistent rain washed out the last two days of play, leading to a drawn series.
Krunal Pandya has been appointed captain of the seven-member India squad for the Hong Kong Sixes, replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was recalled to the national team. Kulwant Khejroliya will join the squad as Bhuvneshwar's replacement for the tournament scheduled from October 30 to November 1.
The Janata Dal (United) is considering a proposal to rename the party as 'JD(U)-Nitish' to honour its leader Nitish Kumar, a move supported by key aides but criticised by the RJD, which suggests it indicates an impending split within the party.
Pace bowler Auqib Nabi has been added to the Indian squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand, replacing the injured Prasidh Krishna, who failed to recover from a hamstring injury.
Tilak Varma starred with a match-winning fifty to power India to a thrilling victory in the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
The story of Bihar's educational reform is a lesson for all reforms done halfway.
New Zealand pacer Adam Milne's impressive four-wicket haul for just 19 runs helped restrict India to a below-par total of 191 for eight in the fifth and final T20I, despite well-paced fifties from Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan.
'If the BJP had its way, it would sideline him in favour of someone else. But that's not feasible. There is no vote catcher in Bihar for the BJP.'
'The BJP will use Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha to check Nitish Kumar.' 'They will not allow him to function freely as before.'
Former India batter S Badrinath has expressed concerns regarding India's T20I squad for the upcoming Afghanistan series, particularly questioning the consistent inclusion of Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. He suggested that some selections might be influenced by team management preferences. Badrinath also welcomed Jasprit Bumrah's potential return, calling it a significant boost for the team ahead of the Asian Games.
Former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin has lauded young batter Tilak Varma for his composed match-winning knock against New Zealand in the second T20I, expressing his strong desire to see Varma represent India in Test cricket.
'There will be no khel on February 12 during the confidence motion vote.'
If he cannot do it this term by using his bureaucracy and experts from different fields, it will be a tragedy, asserts Ramesh Menon.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the second T20I at Hagley Oval, marking their 200th victory in men's T20 Internationals. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy's unbeaten 69-run partnership secured the win, giving India a 2-0 series lead.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma expressed immense pride after his unbeaten 51 off 26 balls guided India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I, securing a 2-0 series lead. Varma credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak for their belief in his ability to finish the game.
Despite an unassailable 3-1 lead, the Indian team management is contemplating tactical changes for the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand in Hamilton, potentially bringing in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and addressing concerns over Sanju Samson's form and bowling inconsistencies.
Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 and Keemo Paul's five-wicket haul led West Indies to a 24-run victory over India, levelling the five-match T20I series at 2-2.
