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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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
