POLITICS

Chidambaram's interview likely to cost dearly to Congress

Former Home Minister P Chidambaram, in a recent interview accepted the then leadership and the government's failure to response the 26/11 terror attack, is going to be big headache for the Congress, especially during the Bihar assembly polls. Sources said the said interview has defused the Congress attack on the Modi govt and given a tool to NDA leaders.
 

NDA’s proposed sharing revealed?

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has finalised its seat contestation arrangement for the crucial 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, signalling a closely-coordinated electoral battle among the coalition partners.

According to the agreed formula, the Janata Dal (United) will contest 103 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is set for 102 constituencies. Among the allies, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been allocated 23 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha will contest 8, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha has received 7 seats for the polls.

This delineation seeks to maintain alliance discipline and address the competing ambitions of each partner, as seat talks saw strong bargaining and demands from the smaller parties. With the JD(U) and BJP nearly equal in their seat share and the smaller parties leveraging their influence, the NDA is projecting a united campaign front as Bihar prepares for elections on November 6 and 11, 2025.

Women voters to decide the fate of Bihar Elections

Women voters are poised to be the decisive force in Bihar’s 2025 elections, having fundamentally reshaped the state’s electoral dynamics over the past two decades. From trailing men in voter turnout in 2005, women now outvote men by more than 5 percentage points, with 2020 figures showing 59.7% turnout among women versus 54.6% for men. This surge is not merely statistical; it represents a powerful, issue-driven bloc demanding policy attention on welfare, safety, and economic empowerment.

Political parties across Bihar have internalized the new reality—campaigns increasingly focus on women’s specific needs, from welfare schemes to increased safety measures, recognizing that electoral victory hinges on capturing this decisive constituency. Bureaucrats and senior administrators publicly hail this transformation, crediting women for raising the bar of democratic participation and accountability. As women voters exert unprecedented influence, they are set to define not just the outcome of Bihar’s elections but the trajectory of the state’s governance and socio-economic agenda in 2025.

Big announcement for Farmers by Government of India on October 11

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is set to unveil a major package for farmers on October 11, 2025. The centerpiece will be the launch of the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, aiming to boost farmer income and strengthen the agricultural ecosystem.

Key Features of the Announcement

The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana focuses on transforming 100 low-productivity districts through targeted interventions like enhanced irrigation coverage, storage facility upgrades, expanded access to credit, and crop diversification. The scheme will guide coordinated implementation across various central and state schemes, modeled after the Aspirational Districts Programme, with an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for six years.

Alongside, the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission will ensure central agencies procure 100% of registered farmers’ pulses at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and aims for India’s self-sufficiency in key pulses by expanding acreage and improving yields. Over 1,100 new agriculture infrastructure projects worth ₹42,000 crore will be inaugurated, including storage, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing facilities, directly benefitting millions of farmers.

This package is positioned as a watershed moment to boost rural prosperity, secure food needs, and empower India’s farming community in the coming years.