Pawan Khera says Bihar election turning into “ECI vs People” as trends favour NDA
New Delhi: Congress leader and All India Congress Committee Working Committee member Pawan Khera said on Friday that the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections appear to be a contest “between the Election Commission of India and the people of Bihar,” as initial trends indicated a strong lead for the BJP-led NDA.
Khera described the trends as “just the beginning,” adding that the party was waiting for clearer results. Criticising the poll panel, he said the early numbers showed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Gupta was “making an impact” on the elections. He also referenced issues such as SIR and alleged “vote chori,” asserting that voters had “shown courage.”
Taking aim at the CEC, Khera remarked that Gyanesh Kumar Gupta was “writing a book for the Prime Minister,” drawing a comparison to the title To Serve with Love.
The NDA’s strong performance follows the BJP’s recent victories in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Haryana. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) appeared set to improve its 2020 tally of 43 seats, with leads in more than 80 constituencies. The LJP(RV), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, was ahead in over 21 of the 29 seats it contested.
In contrast, the RJD was leading in fewer than 40 of the more than 140 seats it contested. The Congress, which fought 61 seats, was leading in under 5.
#WATCH | #BiharElection2025 | Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "As I said, the initial trends in itself show that Gyanesh Kumar appears to be succeeding against the people of Bihar. This fight is not between the BJP, Congress, RJD, and JDU. This is a direct fight between Gyanesh… pic.twitter.com/SMF8joiXBI
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2025
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
