This is not a ‘gathbandhan’ but a ‘thugbandhan’: Union Minister Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday called Mahagathbandhan “thugbandhan”, hours after the opposition alliance announced RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Ministerial face for the Bihar assembly polls to be held on November 6 and November 11.”This is not astonishing anymore. Lalu Yadav has very adamantly announced his son as the CM candidate. This is not a ‘gathbandhan’ but a ‘thugbandhan’… Nitish Kumar is the NDA’s CM face,” Singh said.This announcement was made at a joint press conference of the Mahagathbandhan, where senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot stated that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav will be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the assembly poll.”He is a young person. He has a long future and the public will support him,” Gehlot said.Gehlot said that people of Bihar want change as they struggle with multiple issues, including unemployment. He alleged that the way the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Centre is operating is a “threat to democracy”.”It is obvious to get worried about the condition of the country and the state. The situation is serious. The way the NDA government operates is a threat to democracy. There is polarisation. Nobody knows in which direction the country is heading. If you criticise, you are sent to jail – it doesn’t matter if you are a journalist or activist. It is our responsibility to keep in mind what the country wants. The country is watching Bihar. The issue of unemployment remains. People want change,” he said.The 2025 Bihar elections will have the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan.The results will be declared on November 14.
If a “face” is visible, no need other faces: CPI (ML) GS Dipankar Bhattacharya on Tejashwi Yadav as CM face
CPI (ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Thursday responded to questions about Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav being Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Minister face for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, saying that if a “face” is visible, there was no need to speculate on other possible faces.”You are asking who our CM face is? You can see one face there. Why do you want to see five faces on it?” Bhattacharya told ANI.Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said that it was the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that hadn’t even held a press conference on the CM face yet. “It is better if the BJP doesn’t say anything. NDA has not yet held a press conference. Prashant Kishor says that Amit Shah came to suppress and scare his candidates and that Nitish Kumar’s time as CM is up,” Bhattacharya said.s the election dates come closer, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is likely to be announced as the Chief Ministerial candidate by the opposition Mahagathbandhan today.The declaration of Tejashwi as Mahagathbandhan’s CM face is expected to be made during a joint press conference by alliance parties. Tejashwi, the Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP), has previously served as Deputy Chief Minister.This comes a day after the Congress high command rushed senior party leader Ashok Gehlot to Patna to defuse tensions within the grand alliance.Gehlot met RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav at their residence in Patna amid reports of a widening rift between alliance partners, stemming from the issue of a “friendly fight” on some assembly seats.Gehlot, who has been named as Senior Election Observer by the AICC, assured that the INDIA bloc is “fully united” after he and the Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru met with RJD’s top leadership.Further speaking about the friendly fights on some seats in the alliance, Gehlot assured that it is not something out of the ordinary and Mahagathbandhan has “no problem” at all.”In 243 seats, due to local leaders and equations, a situation like a friendly fight sometimes arises on 5-7 seats. This is a very small number, but a campaign was run against the Mahagathbandhan in the media over it, whereas in reality, there is no problem at all,” he said.The Mahagathbandhan has about 12 seats where at least two allies have filed nominations. However, this notion of a friendly fight has invited criticism from the NDA alliance, which has had no fissures after its seat-sharing arrangements were announced.The 2025 Bihar elections will have the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan.NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).Additionally, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj has also staked claims on all 243 seats of the state.The assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14.
China Consul General Highlights Strengthening India-China Relations, Trade Growth
China and India are witnessing renewed momentum in bilateral relations as trade, investment, and cultural exchanges deepen, said Xu Wei, Consul General of China in Kolkata, during an address titled “China’s Development and China-India Cooperation.” Xu highlighted that both countries, as major emerging economies, have maintained a robust trade partnership with volumes surpassing USD 100 billion for several consecutive years. From January to September this year, bilateral trade reached USD 115.2 billion, up 10.9 percent year-on-year. “The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued over 280,000 visas to Indian citizens this year,” Xu said. “Our Consulate in Kolkata alone issued 12,717 visas, already exceeding last year’s total. Most of these are business visas, showing strong commercial interest.” He also noted that India has reopened tourist visas for Chinese citizens, while direct flights between the two countries are set to resume after five years. “This Sunday, IndiGo will launch a Kolkata–Guangzhou route. In November, Shanghai–New Delhi and Guangzhou–New Delhi flights will also restart, making travel more convenient and cost-effective,” Xu added. The consul general shared his impressions after visiting Shanghai and Suzhou, describing Shanghai as “a window into China’s modernization” and a leader in international trade, finance, and technology. Shanghai’s GDP crossed 5.39 trillion yuan (USD 757 billion) in 2024 — larger than that of several developed nations. Suzhou, he said, has become a global manufacturing powerhouse with growing trade ties with India, reaching USD 10.16 billion last year. Xu also reviewed China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), emphasizing the nation’s steady economic growth and green development goals. “China’s GDP expanded from 110 trillion to over 134 trillion yuan during this period, growing by an average of 5.5 percent annually despite global challenges,” he said. Renewable energy now accounts for nearly 60 percent of China’s power capacity, and more than half of the world’s new energy vehicles are produced in China. China remains the world’s second-largest economy, with a GDP worth about USD 18.9 trillion — around 17 percent of the global total — contributing roughly 30 percent of global growth. Xu stressed that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China. “President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed that our two countries are partners, not rivals, and opportunities, not threats,” he said. Expressing optimism, Xu added, “With the guidance of our leaders and the efforts of our people, I believe China-India relations will continue to improve, bringing tangible benefits to both nations and contributing to peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond.”
Four people run over by train
In a tragic incident, four people, including a woman and her daughter, were killed after being run over by a train near Rahua Dhala in the Sahebpur Kamal police station area of Begusarai district late this evening. According to police , the victims were crossing the railway track when they were hit by a passing train. The deceased have been identified as Dharamdev Mahto, Rita Devi (wife of Madan Mahto) and her daughter Roshni Kumari, all residents of Rahua village. The identity of the fourth victim is yet to be confirmed. The bodies wete sent for post-mortem . An investigation into the incident has been initiated.
Durgapur court orders Test Identification Parade of six accused in alleged gang-rape of Odisha medical student
A city court, hearing the October 10 alleged gang-rape case of a 23-year-old MBBS student from Odisha, today directed the Test Identification (TI) parade of the six accused, including the classmate, at the Phooljhore jail on October 24, court sources said. The court order came about after advocate Partha Ghosh, appearing for the survivor, prayed for the TI parade of the accused persons as soon as possible, which would be done in the Fuljhore Correctional Home where all the accused are presently lodged. The Advocate maintained the rape was pre-planned, and classmate Wasef Ali (23) is a prime accused. Four of the six arrested accused, who were today produced before the Durgapur Mohokuma Court, have been remanded to judicial custody up to October 26. They are Wasef Ali, Nasiruddin Sheikh alias Samrat (23), Apur Bauri (21) and Firdous Sheikh (23). Yesterday, two other accused, Sheikh Riazuddin and Sheikh Safiq, who recorded their judicial confession before the Durgapur Judicial Magistrate, were also sent to jail custody up to October 26. The Durgapur Police wanted the duo to turn approvers in the case. The investigation revealed that Wasef Ali was in a relationship with his classmate. They had left the campus of her IQ City Medical College here on October 10 around 8 pm to buy dinner. However, investigation revealed that they were found in a compromising position in a forested area outside the campus by three of the five arrested accused youths. As the accused demanded money from the two, the male friend was allowed to leave the area to get money. It is at that time that one of the accused raped the medical student while two others watched. Later, two more youths turned up at the scene of crime. The mobile phone of the medical student was snatched. The male friend arrived with money and the two of them were allowed to go, the investigation revealed. The investigators are now comparing the statements of the victim, the male friend and five youths from the village. However, there are still several discrepancies in their statements, and police are trying to link in the alleged gang-rape.
