POLITICS

Union Ministers from Bihar to fight in upcoming Bihar Polls?

Several Union Ministers from Bihar serving in the Modi 3.0 cabinet could become increasingly relevant in the run-up to the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, with speculation that some might be fielded directly in the state contest to strengthen the NDA’s prospects. This move would aim to leverage their national profile and bolster the alliance’s projection of leadership, caste balance, and governance credentials as the contest intensifies.

Bihar currently has eight key representatives in the Modi 3.0 Union Cabinet. These are Chirag Paswan (Minister for Food Processing Industries), Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan Singh” (Panchayati Raj, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairying), Jitan Ram Manjhi (MSME), Giriraj Singh (Textiles), Ram Nath Thakur (MoS Agriculture), Nityanand Rai (MoS Home), Satish Chandra Dubey (MoS Coal and Mines), and Raj Bhushan Chaudhary (MoS Jal Shakti). While most have established their base in national politics, the NDA may field leaders like Chirag Paswan, Lalan Singh, or Jitan Ram Manjhi in the assembly polls to energize their party cadres and influence crucial caste-based constituencies pivotal to the state’s electoral battle.

Such a strategy underscores the high stakes in Bihar’s upcoming polls and the NDA’s determination to deploy heavyweights to shore up both organizational strength and public appeal in a fiercely contested state.

Why did former DGP Jacob Thomas become persona non grata for Vijayan government?

The former DGP of Kerala Jacob Thomas  became a persona non grata for the CPI(M) after the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau initiated a probe. Thomas was known as a no non-sense officer and during his 35 years long service, the IPS officer was mostly kept off the mainstream policing jobs and was in uniform service hardly for five years. It so happened that the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau initiated a case against the then Industries Minister and senior CPI(M) leader E P Jayarajan on nepotism charges during the initial months of the first Pinarayi Vijayan government from 2016 to 2021. Thomas was then heading the unit. The department also initiated actions against two senior IAS officers, which further irked the Pinarayi government. Thereafter, he was placed under suspension for a couple of times on charges of criticising the Pinarayi government for law and order breakdown.

LJP to be allocated 22 or lesser seats in the NDA pie for the upcoming Bihar elections?

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is expected to secure 22 or fewer seats as part of the NDA coalition in the upcoming Bihar elections, reflecting a recalibration of the alliance’s seat-sharing formula amid changing political dynamics. Chirag Paswan, the party’s leader, played a pivotal role in the previous election by positioning the LJP as a crucial NDA component, mobilizing support among Dalit communities and emerging as a vocal voice for their concerns. His leadership not only gave the alliance a stronger outreach in regions dominated by Paswan voters, but also helped the NDA secure competitive margins in several reserved and general constituencies. The Paswan vote bank, estimated at around 6% of Bihar’s electorate, is known for its loyalty and strategic significance. This bloc has historically provided the LJP with a dedicated support base, acting as a swing factor in tightly contested seats and enhancing the party’s bargaining power within the NDA coalition.

US Government Shutdown Day 6

As of October 6, 2025, the shutdown entered its sixth day, with blame game intensifying over Obamacare subsidies. Speculation ties it to 2026 midterms, potentially hurting Republicans in key states like Pennsylvania.