NDA seat-sharing for Bihar polls announced; BJP, JD(U) get 101 each
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP and the JD(U) will each contest on 101 seats in the Bihar assembly elections, while Union minister Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party will field its candidates on 29 seats, Union minister and BJP's Bihar polls in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Sunday.
In a post on X as the meeting of the BJP's Central Election Committee, which includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders, started, Pradhan said Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha will field their candidates on six seats each.
He claimed all National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners have completed the seat-distribution exercise in a cordial manner.
He said, "Leaders and workers of all NDA parties welcome this with happiness. Bihar is ready for another NDA government."
The announcement followed days of negotiations involving senior BJP leadership and their allies except the JD(U), which had reached an understanding with the principal NDA party earlier.
Allies like Paswan, Manjhi and Kushwaha drove a hard bargain with the BJP and blew hot and cold in talks, even as the negotiation continued. Paswan appears to have prevailed on the BJP in conceding to his party more seats than it was earlier willing to.
The 243-seat Bihar assembly will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and 11.
In 2020, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had contested on 115 seats and the BJP on 110 seats, while Paswan had contested separately.
This is the first time that the JD(U) is not contesting more seats than the BJP in an assembly election in a clear indication of the realignment of strength within the ruling alliance.
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Udaipur Police arrest three, including company CEO, in alleged gang rape of employee
Udaipur: The Udaipur Police have arrested three people, including the chief executive officer and a senior executive of a private company and the executive’s husband, in connection with the alleged gang rape of a female employee in a moving car, officials said on Thursday.
The arrests were made after the survivor filed a complaint. Following her complaint, her statement was recorded and a medical examination conducted, as reported by India Today. District Superintendent of Police Yogesh Goyal said the medical report noted injury marks that prima facie support the allegation of gang rape.
Police said the accused, identified as Jeetesh Sisodia, the CEO of GKM IT Private Limited, his colleague Gaurav, and Gaurav’s wife Shilpa, were being produced before a court for further legal proceedings.
According to the complaint, the incident took place after a birthday and New Year party hosted by the CEO at a hotel in the Shobhagpura area on December 20. The survivor said she reached the hotel around 9 pm and the gathering continued until about 1.30 am. The CEO, a senior female executive, and her husband were among those present.
The survivor stated that after she began feeling intoxicated, she was offered a lift home. She alleged that instead, she was persuaded to join an after-party. Around 1.45 am, she was seated in a car with the CEO and the executive’s husband, while the executive later joined them. The group allegedly stopped at a shop to buy smoking material, after which she was made to smoke and subsequently lost consciousness.
In her complaint, the woman said that when she regained partial awareness, she found the CEO molesting her and alleged that all three accused sexually assaulted her. Despite repeatedly asking to be taken home, she was dropped only around 5 am.
The survivor further reported that after fully regaining consciousness, she noticed injuries to her private parts. She also found that some of her belongings, including an earring, socks and undergarments, were missing.
Police said a webcam installed in the car used during the incident recorded audio and video, which might be useful during the on going investigation.
