Bihar is witnessing heightened political activity, with the Mahagathbandhan conducting a Voter Rights Yatra, which has drawn criticism from the Janata Dal United (JDU). The JDU accuses Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav of spreading misinformation and demands a public apology. Meanwhile, the Congress party is actively preparing for the upcoming elections, with its screening committee set to tour Bihar to evaluate potential candidates. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has voiced concerns, alleging that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is working to please the BJP and RSS.
At a press conference, JDU spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad and media panelist Mahesh Das condemned the Voter Rights Yatra organized by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. They claimed the leaders were misleading the public and should apologize.
The JDU further alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav have a history of misrepresenting facts to deceive the public. They referenced Rahul Gandhi’s use of CSDS data, which was later found to be inaccurate, to criticize the Election Commission. The JDU questioned whether Rahul Gandhi would apologize to the public and the Election Commission for his actions.
Additionally, the JDU pointed out Rahul Gandhi’s history of apologies, including those made in relation to the Rafale deal, his remarks about the army, and a defamation case concerning his comments about Modi.
In preparation for the Bihar assembly elections, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee has organized a meeting to select potential candidates. The screening committee, which includes MP Praniti Shinde and in-charge secretary Devendra Yadav, will embark on a three-day tour of Bihar from August 23 to August 25, 2025. During this tour, they will meet with potential candidates from various districts.
The Congress party announced that the screening committee will hold its first meeting in Sasaram, followed by meetings in Gaya and Patna. These meetings will involve potential candidates and district officials.
The RJD has accused CM Nitish Kumar of aligning with the BJP and RSS. At a press conference, RJD leaders Kari Mo Shohaib, Ejaz Ahmed, and Mujahid Alam discussed the alleged irregularities surrounding the Madrasa Board’s centenary celebration, where significant funds were reportedly spent to promote Nitish Kumar and BJP ministers. They also claimed that Urdu newspapers were compelled to publish advertisements without charge. Furthermore, they alleged that government madrasas were closed for the celebration, and teachers were pressured to attend a JDU rally. They also accused the Madrasa Board’s chairman of using Muslim institutions to serve JDU’s political interests.
The Indian Communist Party-ML has criticized the Election Commission regarding its handling of voter list exclusions. The party stated that the commission’s bulletin incorrectly claimed that no objections were raised by BLAs from any political party. They claim the commission did not provide a clear process for registering objections and disregarded their objections due to formatting issues.
JDU state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha criticized the opposition’s Voter Rights Yatra, suggesting that it is merely a tactic for the Congress and RJD to protect their own political interests, due to the lack of real issues to discuss. He also pointed to the past controversies of booth capturing and the violation of fundamental rights by the opposition during their past tenures. Kushwaha accused Rahul and Tejashwi of misleading the public.
Dr. Santosh Suman of the Hindustan Awami Morcha (Sec.) highlighted the significance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Gaya, emphasizing the city’s development prospects. He also mentioned that the government’s vision of ‘heritage and development’ will be achieved through Gaya’s comprehensive development.
Dr. Suman mentioned that the Prime Minister will inaugurate various projects worth Rs 1675 crore for the development of Gaya, which will include an industrial corridor. He further noted that the meeting in Gaya will be historic, with all the NDA parties fully preparing to ensure its success.