Patna, Nov 19: Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Nitish Kumar was once again unanimously elected as the leader of the Janata Dal(United) legislative party on Wednesday.

With this decision, it is now confirmed that Nitish Kumar will take oath as Chief Minister on November 20 at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

This will be a landmark swearing-in ceremony, as Nitish Kumar is set to begin his tenth term as Chief Minister — a remarkable achievement that underscores his long-standing influence in Bihar’s political landscape.

Over the years, he has remained at the centre of coalition politics and is regarded as one of the state’s most experienced administrators.

All JD(U) MLAs were present at Wednesday’s meeting, sending a strong message of unity and confidence in Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

Senior party leaders stated that Bihar requires stable and decisive leadership, and only under Nitish Kumar can the pace of development gain momentum.

Nitish Kumar also hinted at introducing a new development roadmap with fresh schemes and policies in the coming months, making use of the new political equation in the state.

With the JD(U)’s internal decision now clear, attention has shifted to the NDA legislative party meeting, where the leader of the NDA Legislature Party will be chosen.

However, alliance insiders suggest that the NDA is almost certain to endorse Nitish Kumar as its leader following the JD(U)’s unanimous choice.

The NDA meeting is expected to clarify the BJP’s role in the new government, including the selection of Deputy Chief Ministers.

Several names are circulating within BJP circles, but a final decision will only be taken after detailed consultations between the party’s central and state leadership.

Meanwhile, preparations for the grand swearing-in ceremony at Gandhi Maidan are in full swing. Officials have finalised arrangements for security, traffic management, VVIP movement, and public seating.

The venue is being decorated on a large scale, with special attention to stage design, audience galleries, and media facilities.

Many prominent national leaders are expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.

Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh), Nov 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid obeisance to Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Prasanthi Nilayam and Mahasamadhi in this town in Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Sathya Sai district.

He performed special pujas at the golden statue of Sri Sathya Sai Baba amid chanting of Vedic hymns by a group of priests in Sai Kulwant Hall.

Later, as part of the centenary celebrations of Sathya Sai Baba, the Prime Minister participated in the ‘godanam (gift of cows)’ programme. He handed over cows to four farmers.

The priests offered their blessings to the Prime Minister, who later participated in the centenary celebrations along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Central Ministers Ram Mohan Naidu, G. Kishan Reddy, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma and state Minister Nara Lokesh.

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust Managing Trustee RJ Rathnakar and others were present.

Earlier, on arrival at Puttaparthi Airport, the Prime Minister was accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and other leaders and top officials.

The centenary celebrations began with a colourful cultural programme. Hundreds of students from the educational institutions run by Sathya Sai Central Trust participated in the programme.

The Prime Minister will also release a commemorative coin and a set of stamps honouring the life, teachings, and enduring legacy of Sathya Sai Baba. He will also address the gathering during the programme.

Before he arrived in Puttaparthi, the Prime Minister paid respects to Sathya Sai Baba through a post on ‘X’.

“His life and efforts towards community service and the spiritual awakening of society remain a guiding light for generations. I have had various opportunities to interact with him and learn from him over the years. Here are some glimpses from our interactions…,” wrote the PM, who posted his photographs taken with the godman on different occasions in the past.

New Delhi, Nov 19: In a coordinated operation, the South-West District Police solved a robbery case within 48 hours, arresting two men who allegedly targeted a commuter in the Vasant Kunj area.

According to a press release issued by the district police on Wednesday, the accused, both 22 years old and residents of Mahipalpur, were tracked down through extensive CCTV analysis and sustained field efforts.

The incident took place on November 14 when a PCR call alerted PS Vasant Kunj South about a robbery. Police officials rushed to the spot where the complainant, identified as K.K. from Gurugram, reported that two men forcibly snatched his phone and made him transfer Rs 1,500 from his account before fleeing.

A case under FIR No. 471/2025 was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and investigation began immediately.

Given the seriousness of the crime, a specialised team led by Sub Inspector Ravi Malik and comprising Head Constable Naveen, HC Nemi Chand, Constable Harish and Woman Constable Suman was formed to track the culprits. The team combed through CCTV footage across multiple routes, including NH-48, Vasant Kunj Road and Mahipalpur Road. Their efforts led them to Ashish, one of the suspects, who was subsequently detained.

Police said Ashish confessed during interrogation that he and his associate Abhishek Dixit, also known as Golu, had committed the robbery. Acting on this information, a follow-up search operation resulted in the arrest of Abhishek from a wooded area near Arjun Camp.

Both men worked in Mahipalpur hotels on a commission basis, according to the press release. One of them, Ashish, is a drug user, while Abhishek is illiterate.

The police recovered the robbed iPhone SE and the clothes the accused were allegedly wearing during the robbery. “Further investigation is in progress,” the press release issued by Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South-West District, stated.