Bihar election LIVE: Campaign ends for first phase of assembly polls

Stay tuned for LIVE updates on Bihar election 2020

1:25 AM

Why are you so ashamed of your parents' photo, Ravi Shankar Prasad asks Tejashwi Yadav

11:59 PM

Some trying to dent NDA's votes: Nadda in veiled dig at Chirag

BJP chief J P Nadda Monday said some people are trying to make a dent in the NDA's votes during the Bihar assembly polls as part of a "conspiracy", and asked people to remain cautious about them, remarks seen as a veiled attack on LJP president Chirag Paswan.

 

Addressing an election rally here, Nadda said, "Some people indulge in conspiracies during elections. They want to make a dent in the NDA. On one hand, they criticise Chief Minister Nitish Kumar but on the other they praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

 

Though he did not name him, Nadda's remarks are being seen as a repudiation of Chirag Paswan's salvos at Kumar but simultaneous praise of Modi.

 

Earlier in the day, Paswan alleged corruption in Kumar's 'Saat Nishchay' (seven resolves) of good governance and said, if voted to power, he will get it probed, and send to jail all those found guilty, including the chief minister.

10:12 PM

One thing is clear, Nitish Kumar won't ever become Bihar CM after November 10: Chirag Paswan

8:51 PM

SC stays HC order asking political parties to hold virtual bypoll campaigns

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Madhya Pradesh High Court order asking political parties to conduct their campaign for the November 3 assembly bypolls virtually instead of holding physical rallies due to COVID-19.

 

A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take an appropriate decision with regard to political rallies as per law and keeping in mind COVID-19 guidelines.

 

The top court was hearing pleas of the ECI and Madhya Pradesh Energy minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar challenging the high court's order of October 20. The top court also asked senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Tomar, to make a representation to the ECI for loss of time in electioneering due to HC's order. READ MORE...

8:42 PM

Someone making Chirag Paswan dance to their tunes: JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha

8:09 PM

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar faces protest at public meeting; slams RJD

7:44 PM

Rahul Gandhi to address two election meetings in Bihar on Wednesday

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address two public election meetings at Valmiki Nagar and Kusheshwar Asthan in Bihar on October 28. Senior state Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra on Monday said that Gandhi will hold the meeting at Valmiki Nagar at 12 noon and the one at Kusheshwar Asthan at 2.30 pm.

 

Bypoll to the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat will be held on November 7, while Kusheshwar Asthan Assembly constituency will go to polls on November 3.

 

In Bihar, the Congress is a part of the RJD-headed Grand Alliance which also has the CPI(ML), CPI(M) and the CPI as constituents. The Assembly elections in the state would be held in three phases - on October 28, November 3 and November 7. Counting of votes will be taken up on November 10.

7:03 PM

Some trying to make a dent in NDA: Nadda s indirect attack on Chirag

BJP chief J P Nadda Monday said some people are trying to make a dent in the NDA alliance during the ongoing polls in Bihar and "we should remain cautious against them", in remarks seen as an oblique attack on LJP president Chirag Paswan.

 

Addressing an election rally here, Nadda said, "Some people indulge in conspiracies during elections. They want to make a dent in the NDA. On one hand, they criticise Chief Minister Nitish Kumar but on the other they praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

 

Though he did not name him, Naddas remarks is seen as a repudiation of Chirag Paswans political salvos against the chief minister but praise of Modi. Earlier in the day, Paswan alleged corruption in Kumars Saat Nishchay (seven resolves) scheme of good governance and said if voted to power he would get it probed and send to jail those found guilty including the chief minister.

6:34 PM

LJP will probe Nitish govt's 7 resolves scheme if voted to power: Chirag Paswan

Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan Monday alleged corruption in Nitish Kumars flagship 'Saat Nishchay' (seven resolves) scheme and said if voted to power he will get it probed and send to jail those found guilty, including the chief minister.

 

The LJP chief also raised accusing finger on Kumar in the implementation of prohibition laws in the state and accused the CM of gaining from smuggling of liquor into the state.

 

"Why not, if found guilty. Just because he is chief minister he wont go to jail? Corruption is taking place right under his nose, Chirag told PTI-Bhasha over phone from Arwal when asked if he indeed intends to send Kumar to jail on charge of corruption in the implementation of seven resolves. READ MORE...

5:50 PM

BJP President J P Nadda addressed a public rally in Bihar's Purnia

5:36 PM

Campaign ends for first phase of Bihar assembly election

Curtain came down on Monday over campaign for 71 assembly segments of Bihar which go to polls on October 28, in the first phase of elections. Leading the NDA charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew down to address as many as three rallies where he urged the voters to vote Chief Minister Nitish Kumar back to power.

 

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whose party is contesting the elections in alliance with Lalu Prasads RJD and three Left parties, also chipped in with two rallies.

 

The BJPs quest for dominance over the states political scene, evident from a seat-sharing deal as part of which it clinched nearly as many constituencies as the JD(U) its senior partner so far- resonated during the election campaign.

5:26 PM

Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad addresses a public rally in Bihar's Purnia

4:10 PM

The more Congress hates PM, the more people support Modi: Nadda

Hitting out at the Congress for its criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda on Monday said the more the opposition party and its leaders "lie" and "hate" Modi, the more people will support him.

 

In a series of tweets, Nadda lambasted both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and MP Rahul Gandhi for their reproval of the Prime Minister on a range of issues.

 

Combination of despondency and shamelessness is dangerous. Congress possesses both. Empty rhetoric of decency and democracy by the Mother is complemented' by live demonstrations of politics of hate, anger, lies and aggression by the Son. Double standards galore, Nadda said.

 

The BJP president made these remarks in response to an article written by Sonia Gandhi in an English daily alleging that democracy is being hollowed out in the Modi dispensation.

3:57 PM

Inflation biggest issue in Bihar polls, 60 scams occured under Nitish Kumar's leadership: Tejashwi Yadav

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said that besides unemployment, inflation is the biggest issue in Bihar Assembly Elections as onion prices are skyrocketing. He also alleged that 60 scams to the tune of about Rs 30,000 crore have taken place in the state under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.

 

"Inflation is the biggest issue. BJP people used to wear a garland of onions. Now it is about to touch Rs 100/kg. Those who were speaking about onion when it touched Rs 50-60/kg are now silent when it has crossed Rs 80/kg. Starvation and poverty are rising in the state," Yadav said while speaking to media.

 

"There is unemployment, small traders are destroyed. GDP is falling, we are going through an economic crisis. Farmers are being destroyed, youth is unemployed, Bihar is poor and people are migrating for education, jobs and medical help," he added.

 

3:34 PM

The more Congress leaders "lie" and "hate" PM Modi, the more people will support him: J P Nadda