Bihar

The recent killing of prominent businessman Gopal Khemka in Patna has ignited a political storm in Bihar, drawing rare public criticism from Union Minister Chirag Paswan against the state’s ruling leadership, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is a key National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner, condemned the deteriorating law and order situation and questioned the effectiveness of governance in Bihar.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal has announced that the party will enter the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections without forming any alliance with the Congress or the I.N.D.I.A. coalition. Emphasizing that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc was constituted solely for the Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal clarified that AAP will chart its own course in Bihar, contesting solo. This decision marks a strategic departure from potential coalition politics in the state, underscoring AAP's ambition to carve out an independent political identity beyond national alliances.

In response to political backlash, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar defended the Election Commission of India’s decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls—its first in over two decades. The revision, a constitutionally mandated exercise, seeks to eliminate ineligible entries and ensure all eligible voters are accurately included ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections.

In a sharp accusation against the Election Commission of India (ECI), Asaduddin Owaisi, the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), claims that the ECI is surreptitiously introducing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Bihar ahead of the state's upcoming elections. Owaisi highlights new voter registration rules that require citizens to provide detailed birth records for themselves and their parents, which he argues could disenfranchise the poor, particularly in flood-prone areas like Seemanchal.

In a significant development for Bihar’s energy sector, four major private power companies—Adani Power, JSW Energy, Torrent Power, and Bajaj Group’s Lalit Power—have shown interest in establishing a 2,400 MW thermal power plant in Pirpainti, Bhagalpur. This project, marking the largest private sector investment in the state's power infrastructure, promises an investment of ₹28,000 crore. As the state government moves forward with the initiative, the plants are expected to enhance power supply, support industrial growth, and improve the quality of life for consumers.

As opposition voices grow louder over election transparency, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly defended its decision to retain polling station CCTV footage for no more than 45 days. The move, while criticized by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as an attempt to "destroy evidence," is justified by the ECI on legal and ethical grounds—chiefly, to protect voter privacy and uphold the sanctity of secret ballots.

Suraksha Diagnostics has announced a strategic investment of Rs. 200 crore to establish more than 20 state-of-the-art imaging centres across eastern India, reinforcing its commitment to delivering quality diagnostic services beyond metro regions. Partnering with global technology firm United Imaging, the initiative will focus on expanding diagnostic access in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, enhancing affordability and clinical accuracy in underserved areas. This move follows the company’s successful Rs. 846.25 crore IPO in December, earmarked for expansion.

Sugs Lloyd, a prominent player in the energy infrastructure sector, has clinched fresh engineering contracts valued at Rs. 74.35 crore, fortifying its presence in Bihar and Odisha. These deals include transformative projects awarded by the North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (NBPDCL) and Tata Power subsidiaries. The contracts span the development of new substations, high-voltage transmission lines, and grid modernization efforts.

On his fifth visit to Bihar this year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi delivered a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing them of failing to maintain law and order in the state. Speaking at a gathering in Rajgir, Nalanda—Nitish Kumar's home district—Gandhi said the BJP and the Chief Minister had transformed Bihar from the revered “land of knowledge” into the “crime capital” of India. His remarks underscored growing political tension in the poll-bound state, where concerns over governance and public safety are gaining momentum.

Tej Pratap Yadav, the eldest son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, made a heartfelt public appeal to his parents following his expulsion from both the party and his family. The rift, triggered by Tej Pratap's controversial actions and his alleged relationship, highlights the deepening divisions within the Yadav family, which has been a longstanding force in Bihar’s politics.