New Delhi, Nov 14: The results of the Assembly bye-elections held on November 11 delivered a mixed mandate, with both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning two seats each out of the eight that went to polls. Regional parties also held their ground, retaining influence in their respective strongholds.

The Congress registered two significant victories in Rajasthan and Telangana.

In Rajasthan’s Anta constituency, Pramod Jain Bhaya defeated the BJP’s Morpall Suman by 15,612 votes, securing 69,571 votes.

In Telangana’s Jubilee Hills, the Congress wrested the seat from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Congress candidate V. Naveen Yadav defeated BRS’ Maganti Sunitha by 24,729 votes — the highest victory margin in the constituency’s history.

The BJP, meanwhile, claimed two major wins in Jammu & Kashmir and Odisha.

In J&K’s Nagrota, BJP candidate Devyani Rana secured a commanding win with a margin of 24,647 votes.

In Odisha’s Nuapada, BJP’s Jay Dholakia defeated Congress candidate Ghasi Ram Majhi by a massive 83,748 votes, while the Biju Janata Dal finished third.

Regional parties demonstrated strong performances across several states.

In J&K’s Budgam, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious, with Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi defeating his nearest National Conference rival Aga Syed Mahmood Al-Mosavi by 4,478 votes. The BJP’s Aga Syed Mohsin Mosvi finished a distant sixth with just 2,619 votes.

In Mizoram, the Mizo National Front (MNF) retained its hold on the Dampa seat, where Dr. R. Lalthangliana won by a narrow margin of 562 votes.

In Punjab, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) successfully defended the Tarn Taran Assembly seat. Here, AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu retained the Tarn Taran Assembly seat, defeating his nearest rival, Sukhwinder Kaur of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), who was leading in the initial rounds of counting, by more than 12,000 votes.

In Jharkhand’s Ghatshila, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) secured a dominant victory. Somesh Chandra Soren defeated BJP’s Babulal Soren, son of former Chief Minister Champai Soren, by a margin of 38,524 votes, polling 1,04,794 votes against the BJP candidate’s 66,270. All other 11 candidates forfeited their deposits.

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.