Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's "hydrogen bomb" remark over alleged vote theft has turned out to be just a "small firecracker".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday charged the opposition RJD-Congress combine in Bihar with having a soft corner for infiltrators, but "dislike" for Lord Ram and 'Chhathi Maiya' because of vote bank politics.

A total of 27.65 per cent of 3.75 crore voters exercised their franchise till 11 am in the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections on Thursday, an official said.

A woman and her male friend from Bengaluru were arrested on a charge of installing a hidden camera in a bathroom of women’s hostel in Nagamangalam in Hosur, police said on Thursday.

Police have detained nine persons after pro-Pakistan slogans were displayed on the signboards of two shops in North Goa district, officials said on Wednesday.

The Congress on Thursday said "rising unemployment" has become a matter of "grave concern" but Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead of solving this problem, is always in "election mode", busy "inventing new speeches" to divert the attention of the public.

A total of 13.13 per cent of 3.75 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting in phase one of the Bihar assembly elections on Thursday, an official said.

A man arrested by the Telangana police in a suicide abetment case has escaped from custody by jumping off a train near Kalyan railway station in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Thursday.