New Delhi, Nov 14: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised for a sweeping victory in Bihar on Friday, leading in 202 seats according to the latest trends, while the Mahagathbandhan—including the Indian National Congress (INC), RJD, and smaller allies—was trailing with just 34 seats.

Analysts and BJP strategists interpret the massive gap as a sign of voter dissatisfaction with the INC’s perceived ideological shift and “appeasement-driven politics.”

On Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary, observers and BJP strategists noted that many long-time Congress workers appeared disillusioned, citing a move away from the party’s earlier ideology towards what has been described as a combination of Maoist influence and Muslim appeasement—sometimes referred to in political commentary as the “Muslim League Maowadi Congress.”

This narrative echoes broader debates about the Congress’ recent track record. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously slammed Congress for institutional decisions, citing transfers of properties to the Waqf Board before the party left office in 2014 as examples of alleged appeasement at the expense of secular principles.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also highlighted earlier remarks by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who controversially equated the Congress with the Muslim community during the Jubilee Hills bypoll, claiming such positions could divide society along religious lines.

Political analysts point to several flashpoints in Karnataka, Telangana, and other states, arguing that welfare promises targeted at specific communities, challenges to laws concerning religious institutions, and statements on demographic politics have collectively reinforced voter perceptions of identity-focused strategies.

Other contentious issues, including the handling of triple talaq, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and communal incidents, have been cited in public discourse as examples of selective intervention. Analysts suggest these trends may have contributed to a shift away from broad-based politics towards narrower, identity-centric platforms, shaping the electoral outcome in Bihar.

A wave of panic swept through the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus bus depot on Friday evening after a suspicious red bag was found abandoned near the waiting area. The sighting, which came at a time when Mumbai is already on heightened alert, led to the immediate evacuation of commuters and staff from the busy transport hub.

The unattended bag was first spotted around 4:45 in the evening, prompting depot authorities to swiftly cordon off the area and inform the police. Visuals showed people rushing out of the depot while security personnel urged them to maintain distance from the spot.

A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad team reached the site within minutes. The team conducted a meticulous examination of the bag, while police officers kept the crowd away and halted bus movement for safety.

After a detailed inspection, officials confirmed that the bag did not contain anything harmful. The episode was declared a false alarm, bringing relief to hundreds who had gathered around the barricades waiting for updates. Bus services resumed shortly after.

A police official speaking to Media said that while the scare turned out to be unfounded, every alert must be taken seriously considering the current security situation.

The incident comes barely days after a powerful explosion near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort killed at least ten people and left several injured. Following the blast, security agencies across the country have been instructed to step up surveillance at public spaces, transport hubs, and tourist locations.

Earlier this week, a major white collar terror module was busted across Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh. Several doctors allegedly linked to the Jaish e Mohammad network were arrested, and nearly three thousand kilograms of ammonium nitrate were recovered in Faridabad.

With investigations continuing, Mumbai police have intensified checks and urged citizens to report any suspicious objects or activity without delay.

Lucknow, Nov 14: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, met the state’s World Cup winning Women’s Cricket Team player Deepti Sharma and also led a Cabinet meeting which took 20 key decisions, including one on easing the registration process for old age pension, an official said.

Sharma, who is serving as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the state, was praised by Chief Minister Adityanath for her good performance in the World Cricket final and winning the Player of the Tournament award.

“Deepti has done the Uttar Pradesh Police proud at the world stage,” CM Adityanath had tweeted soon after the women’s cricket team lifted the World Cup on November 2.

Cricketer Deepti Sharma was earlier appointed as DSP in January this year under the sports quota as part of Chief Minister Adityanath’s Skilled Athlete Scheme.

During the Cabinet meeting held at the CM residence on Friday, CM Adityanath led his Ministers in congratulating the women’s cricket team for winning the World Cup.

The Cabinet also condemned the fatal Delhi blast on November 10.

A key decision taken at the meeting relates to saving the elderly the trouble of running around for pension.

The Cabinet decided that the social welfare department will deploy call-centre executives to contact and seek consent of the beneficiary and fill their forms online through common service centres.

The forms will be verified using family IDs before the release of their pension, saving the elderly to run around to complete formalities.

As a pilot project, the scheme will be tried in five districts, including Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Kannauj and Lalitpur, an official said.

In the existing system, an online application by an elderly person seeking pension needs the verification by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and village Block Development Officer before an approval from the District Magistrate-led Committee.

An official said the proposed new system will speed up the entire process.

The scheme will benefit all elderly over the age of 60 with an annual income of Rs 56,460 or less in urban areas and Rs 46,080 or less in rural areas.

The Cabinet also approved a scheme to provide car loan to employees of judicial services.

Other Cabinet decisions included approval for a private university in Shahjahanpur and beneficial rate revision for cane procurement.