PM Modi urges Bihar to vote with full enthusiasm
New Delhi(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged voters in Bihar to exercise their franchise with full enthusiasm in the first phase of Assembly elections.
“Today Bihar celebrates the first phase of the festival of democracy. Му appeal to all voters of this phase in the assembly elections is that they should vote with full enthusiasm,” Modi said in a post on X.
“On this occasion, I specially congratulate all my young colleagues in the state who will cast their vote for the first time. Remember, vote first, then refreshments (pehle matadan, phir jalpan)," Modi said.
Elections are underway in 121 Assembly constituencies in the first phase in Bihar on Thursday, where 3.75 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates, including top leaders such as INDIA bloc's chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the BJP.
The remaining 122 seats will go to polls on November 11, and the votes will be counted on November 14.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
