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CM Nitish to launch Bihar campaign today; NDA exudes confidence of returning to power

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Patna, Oct 21: As Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gears up to begin his Assembly election campaign on Tuesday, leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have expressed confidence that the alliance will once again form the government in the state, while also criticising the Mahagathbandhan for its internal discord.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to address two major election rallies in Muzaffarpur on the same day, beginning his campaign from the Minapur Assembly constituency. The first rally will be held at the playground of Minapur High School, where he will address the public and highlight the achievements of his government.

Speaking to media, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is the unanimous leader of the NDA and under whose leadership the elections are being held, has continuously inspected various development projects throughout 2025, monitored their progress, and laid foundations for new works. Now, he will appeal directly to the people in open grounds, showcasing how we have brought development to every section of society.”

Taking a swipe at the Mahagathbandhan, he said, “Their leaders are stuck in internal conflicts. Instead of leading, they are entangled in family matters. Some are roaming around taking their grandmother’s name, while others bring along their father and mother. This is not politics; it has become their family affair.”

BJP State President Dilip Kumar Jaiswal also expressed confidence in the NDA’s prospects. Speaking to media, he said, “The first phase of the election campaign begins today, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is inaugurating it. Following this, on October 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay tribute to the late Karpoori Thakur, honouring him as a people’s leader, which will mark the formal beginning of the NDA’s campaign. While Tejashwi and Rahul Gandhi are busy claiming the title of ‘Janayak’, the public has understood that the return of ‘jungle raj’ must be stopped. The NDA will form the government once again.”

Referring to RJD’s ticket distribution, Jaiswal added, “Our Home Minister Amit Shah rightly said in Saran that the RJD began distributing tickets from Shahabuddin’s family. That itself shows where their focus lies. Their arbitrary ticket distribution proves that the RJD wants to bring back ‘jungle raj’, but the people of Bihar have seen through them. The NDA will form the government with a decisive majority.”

Commenting on the elections, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who is currently in Bihar, also expressed confidence of winning the polls.

Speaking to media, he said, “The Prime Minister is our supreme leader, the leader of the NDA, and wherever elections take place, his programs are underway. Bihar is eagerly awaiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Preparations are in full swing, and the NDA is moving steadily toward victory.”

Crime

FIR registered after posters questioning govt performance found pasted inside Delhi Metro

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An FIR has been registered against unidentified persons after two posters against the government were found pasted inside a train on the Delhi Metro’s Airport Express Line, police said on Saturday.

The FIR was registered under Sections of the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, 2007, and the Metro Railway (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002.

“The black-and-white posters raised various issues and listed nine claims about changes in the country over recent years. They also carried a QR code inviting people to join an online group,” police said.

Officials said that police seized the posters, and the Special Cell is also involved in the investigation.

This comes amid the anti-Election Commission of India (ECI) protests in the National Capital over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Several Opposition parties, student activists, as well as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) organised protests across the city demanding a rollback of the SIR protest and resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Meanwhile, the INDIA Bloc has scheduled a mega rally against ‘vote chori’ on November 1 in New Delhi.

All India Congress Committee General Secretary, K.C. Venugopal on Friday said the party held high-level meetings with senior leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to intensify mobilisation for the rally.

In a post on X, Venugopal said that he, along with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met AICC in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Rajendra Pal Gautam, UP PCC president Aradhana Misra Mona and other senior leaders from the state to discuss strategies for building large-scale participation in the rally.

The November 1 rally is being projected as one of the largest mobilisations by the Opposition alliance in recent times, with a special focus on drawing participation from northern states.

The Congress has appealed to supporters and citizens concerned about democratic processes to join the march and the Ramleela Maidan gathering in large numbers.

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In first X post Sonia Gandhi recalls how her love story with Rajiv Gandhi began in England

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Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has shared a video on social media recalling how her love story with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi began in 1965 at a small Greek restaurant called The Varsity in Cambridge, England.

In her debut post on X, Sonia Gandhi spoke about her upcoming memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, which is scheduled to be released on November 10. She also shared personal memories of her life with Rajiv Gandhi, offering a glimpse into the early days of their relationship through recollections and old photographs.

“In a small Greek restaurant in Cambridge, my journey of love began. Rajiv and I created a world filled with love, laughter and memories. On 10th November, I share that world with you,” she said.

Recalling their first meeting at the Greek restaurant in Cambridge in 1965, Sonia spoke warmly about Rajiv Gandhi and the qualities that attracted her to him.

“Of course he was very good-looking,” she said.

She also remembered the difficulties of finding good food in England during those days, explaining that restaurants were relatively few and that she eventually discovered a Greek restaurant frequented by Indian and Italian students.

She recalled how the restaurant became the setting for the beginning of their relationship.

“That is when I met Rajiv; in that very restaurant. When I first met him, I felt almost immediately that he was someone I would really love to be with. And of course, I learned out he felt the same. I remember when I first met him, a common friend introduced us and then we became friends. We used to go to parties with friends,” Sonia recalled.

Reflecting on Rajiv Gandhi’s personality, she said his gentle nature had left a lasting impression on her from the very beginning.

“He was a very gentle-looking person. Of course he was very good-looking, but that gentleness came through. That was something that really touched me and struck me. I’ll never forget when I first met him,” she added.

Sonia Gandhi’s post on X marked her first appearance on the social media platform.

Earlier on Thursday, she also joined Instagram, where she shared a message introducing her forthcoming memoir and expressing gratitude for being able to present its first look to readers.

“Hello everyone, I’m truly grateful to share this moment with you all: the first look of Belonging: A Journey of Love. It is a story of love, duty, loss, and finding a place to belong. I look forward to sharing it with you,” Sonia Gandhi wrote in her first Instagram post while sharing the first look of the book.

In the video shared on Instagram, Sonia Gandhi is seen receiving the first copies of her book and sharing sweets with her daughter and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The two were also seen hugging.

The book is set to launch on November 10, while pre-orders have been opened. The memoir is being published globally by Alfred A. Knopf, with HarperCollins India handling its release in the country.

Spanning 544 pages, the book traces Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her meeting and eventual relationship with Rajiv Gandhi. It also chronicles the personal tragedies that shaped her life, including the assassinations of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and explores her subsequent role in Indian politics.

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Left parties, student groups march towards EC HQ, demand Gyanesh Kumar resignation

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Several Left-Wing organisations, student leaders and civil society members on Friday took part in a protest march towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in the national Capital amid heavy security, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The participants, including members of Left-Wing’s All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and All India Youth Federation (AIYF), gathered near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara at Delhi’s Connaught Place to march to the Election Commission’s headquarters near Patel Chowk.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, CPI leader P Sandosh Kumar and political activist Yogendra Yadav also took part in the protest.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav said: “The protests will continue uninterrupted. If you shut down one Jantar Mantar, hundreds of Jantar Mantars will emerge. You may silence one person, but you cannot silence the people. This movement will continue in its own form because it is about the most basic democratic rights of the people of this country.”

P Sandosh added: “…We will intensify our movement in the coming days, and there will be larger gatherings. We will continue our agitation until the resignation of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. No one can save him for sure.”

Heavy security deployment was also witnessed outside the ECI headquarters and several protesters were detained by the police.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Traffic Police had advised commuters to avoid affected routes in view of the protest march.

In a post on ‘X’, the Delhi Traffic Police said: “In connection with the anticipated movement of a large number of people from Bangla Sahib Gurudwara towards Jantar Mantar today, traffic diversions will be in place from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.”

“Commuters are advised to avoid affected roads, plan their journeys in advance and follow traffic police instructions,” it said.

Further, the Traffic Police appealed to motorists to remain patient, follow rules and cooperate with traffic personnel deployed in the area. “Please follow diversion signs and traffic directions to avoid congestion,” it said.

The protests demanding the resignation of CEC Kumar gained momentum following a media report claiming differences within the poll panel regarding procedures related to the SIR.

Earlier this month, the agitations against the CEC were led by the Opposition INDIA Bloc and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), leading to brief detentions of several leaders.

Meanwhile, the BJP has launched a nationwide campaign titled ‘Save democracy, remove anarchy’ to counter the Opposition’s criticism of the SIR.

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