Umesh Kushwaha

A crucial Bihar legislative council byelection for the Ara-Buxar local authorities constituency is set for Tuesday, with over 6,000 local representatives voting. The main contest is between the INDIA bloc's RJD candidate and the NDA's JD(U) candidate. However, a JD(U) rebel's independent run could significantly impact the outcome, potentially creating a triangular fight.

In a display of political fervor, the rival alliances NDA and INDIA bloc staged simultaneous rallies in Ara, coinciding with the filing of nominations for the Bhojpur-Buxar legislative council byelection. As Kanhaiya Prasad of the NDA prepares to face off against Sonu Kumar Rai representing the INDIA bloc, supporters gathered in droves.

In a significant political move, Ajay Kumar Singh, son of former Member of Parliament Tapeshwar Singh, has aligned himself with the JD(U) in Patna. State president Umesh Kushwaha embraced Singh's decision, asserting that his involvement will invigorate the party's efforts in the Bhojpur-Buxar area.

In Patna, vibrant posters celebrate Nishant Kumar, positioning him as the potential next chief minister of Bihar as speculation mounts about his father Nitish Kumar's ambitions on the national stage. Supporters are rallying around Nishant, believing he has the vision to carry forward his father's legacy.

MLA Umesh Kushwaha (46) was on Sunday unanimously elected as Bihar unit president of the ruling Janata Dal (United), giving a clear indication that Nitish Kumar’s party is trying to re-strengthen its traditional support base of “Luv-Kush” (Kurmi and Kushwaha castes).

Former MLA Umesh Kushwaha was on Sunday elected unopposed as JD(U) state president for the second consecutive time for a term of three years (2022-25).

JD(U) workers protested outside CM Nitish Kumar's residence and party office, expressing anger and disbelief over his Rajya Sabha nomination. Alleging a conspiracy and pressure, some threatened self-immolation and vandalized property, demanding to meet their leader and questioning the authenticity of his social media posts.

Former MLA Umesh Kushwaha was on Sunday re-elected unopposed as JD(U) state president for a term of three years (2022-25). JD(U) de facto leader and CM Nitish Kumar handed over the certificate of election to Kushwaha during the party's state council meeting on Sunday. Kushwaha was the sole contender for the post.

JD(U) leader Umesh Kushwaha is all set to continue as the state president of his party as he was the sole contender for this post while filing his nomination papers on Saturday.

JD(U) workers protested outside CM Nitish Kumar's residence and party office, alleging a conspiracy and pressure behind his Rajya Sabha nomination. Some threatened self-immolation, vandalized furniture, and questioned the authenticity of his social media posts, demanding to meet their leader and expressing their dissent.

Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is poised to officially join the JD(U) on March 8. This announcement follows Nitish's firm commitment to transition to the Rajya Sabha, stepping aside from his role as CM while vowing to maintain a watchful eye on Bihar's progress.

The JD(U) on Sunday gave a jolt to the Congress by inducting into its fold Shubhanand Mukesh, son of former state assembly Speaker and a veteran leader of the grand old party from Bhagalpur late Sadanand Singh. Another Congress functionary, Shambhu Singh Patel from Bhabhua, also joined the JD(U).

The JD(U) has decided to hold a “Bhim Sansad” at the Veterinary College ground here on November 5 to “safeguard the Constitution and the reservation rights granted to the socially backward classes”.

Stung by the recent CBI raids on the premises of five RJD leaders in Bihar, the Grand Alliance (GA) partners on Sunday held their first joint press conference and asked the Narendra Modi government not to “misuse” the central agencies, namely CBI, ED and Income Tax, against the leaders of regional and opposition parties.

A day after the state cabinet approved the proposal to conduct caste-based and economic enumeration of the population, the state BJP on Friday raised its pet demand of population control policy and accompanying law for the state.

Hundreds of workers of the Hindustani Awam Morchs (Secular), led by the party leader Dhruv Lal Manjhi, on Tuesday joined the JD(U) in presence of state's finance minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha and newly-appointed SC/ST welfare minister Ratnesh Sada.

Patna JDU Parliamentary Board Chairman Upendra Kushwaha seems to be getting isolated within his own party for his "silent revolt" against the top leadership on Thursday. He was found missing from his party posters put up at various locations in the state capital this happens barely two years after he merged his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party RLSP with the JDU to return to the party led by Nitish Kumar. The posters put up to inform the masses about Maharana Pratap Smriti Samaroh to be organised in the Miller High School ground on January 23 almost all the prominent party leaders including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, National President Lalan Singh, State President Umesh Kushwaha, several ministers and smalltime leaders have found the place but Kushwaha has gone missing from there triggering various speculations. However, the JDU rejected any differences at the top level in the party. "No inference should be drawn from these posters there could have been a printing error," commented party spokesperson Ranbir Nandan.

Former MLA Umesh Kushwaha (46) was on Sunday unanimously elected Bihar unit president of the Janata Dal (United) in a clear indication that Nitish Kumar’s party is trying to restrengthen its traditional support base of “Luv-Kush (Kurmi and Kushwaha castes)”.

The ruling JD(U) and opposition BJP are now busy exposing each other, days after the Patna high court declared the reservation of seats for OBCs and EBCs for elections to municipal bodies as ‘illegal’, leading to deferment of the poll process.

The JD(U) on Tuesday denied ticket to all its five outgoing MLCs and fielded two new faces in the biennial election to the Bihar legislative council’s seven seats to be held on June 20.

CM Nitish Kumar on Friday hosted an iftar party at his official residence here after a gap of two years. Leaders of almost all political parties, except for the AIMIM and former minister Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insaan Party attended the iftar.