Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s birthday wish for BJP veteran LK Advani has triggered a political storm. Tharoor praised Advani’s long public service, saying he “cannot be judged by one episode.” His remarks drew criticism, with many accusing him of ignoring Advani’s role in the 1990 Ram Rath Yatra. The Congress quickly distanced itself, saying Tharoor spoke only for himself. The BJP attacked Congress, calling its response intolerant and dictatorial. BJP leaders mocked the party’s “family rule” and defended Tharoor’s gesture as political courtesy. Advani, who led the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, was awarded the Bharat Ratna earlier this year. (PC: X/@ShashiTharoor)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his “vote chori” claims during a poll rally in Arwal, Bihar. Shah said Rahul Gandhi was raising the issue because “names of infiltrators have been deleted from the voter list.” He added that Gandhi could “take out a yatra from Bihar to Italy,” but the government would not allow infiltrators to stay in India. Shah also questioned why Gandhi had not complained to the Election Commission if he believed votes were being stolen. He warned voters against allowing Left parties to return to power. (PC: HT)

At a rally in Arwal, Amit Shah dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft), accusing him of raising the issue to cover for deleted names of “infiltrators” from voter lists. Shah further mocked Gandhi’s “Yatra” campaign, suggesting he might as well march from Bihar to Italy while the government stands firm against illegal voters. The comments came amid the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election campaign where electoral roll revisions and voter list deletions have stirred controversy. (PC: India Today)

The BJP mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for going on a jungle safari in Madhya Pradesh while Bihar polls are underway. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “For Rahul Gandhi, LoP means Leader of Partying,” accusing him of taking a vacation during elections. Rahul visited Pachmarhi for a Congress training camp and went on a morning safari before heading to Bihar for a rally. During his visit, he alleged that the Election Commission and BJP were working together to enable “vote theft” in several states, claiming democracy and the Constitution were under attack. (PC: India Today)

A video from Bihar’s Samastipur showed hundreds of VVPAT slips lying on a roadside, sparking controversy. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) claimed they were from actual voting. However, officials said the slips were from a mock poll held before voting. District Magistrate Roshan Kushwaha said some unused slips were not shredded properly. The Election Commission suspended the Assistant Returning Officer for negligence and ordered an FIR. Officials confirmed that the incident did not affect the voting process. Mock polls are done before voting to test EVMs and VVPATs, and all data is cleared before real voting begins. (PC: India Today)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim that 501 voters were registered at one address in Haryana’s Hodal town has turned out to be a clerical mistake. Local officials said a data entry error by the Booth Level Officer caused several homes to be listed under the same number, House No. 265. The property belongs to local BJP leader Sundar Singh, who confirmed the numbering mix-up. The Palwal administration has launched a door-to-door verification drive to fix voter list errors. Rahul Gandhi had earlier accused the BJP of voter fraud, but officials dismissed the claims as unverified. (PC: India Today)

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav dismissed political strategist Prashant Kishor’s potential influence in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, stating that his campaign will have “no impact” on voters. In an interview with NDTV, Yadav said the electoral battle will primarily be between the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD and Congress. He further asserted that smaller parties, including the AIMIM, are unlikely to affect the overall outcome. Yadav expressed confidence that people will vote based on governance, employment, and public welfare issues. (PC: NDTV)

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha of Bihar claimed that his convoy was attacked by supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal in his constituency of Lakhisarai during the first phase of the assembly election, alleging stones, slippers and cow-dung were hurled. He accused the opposition of orchestrating booth-capturing attempts and vowed retaliation. Local police maintained that voting proceeded peacefully and warranted a thorough investigation. (PC: PTI)

The first phase of the Bihar assembly election 2025 ended on Thursday with a 60.13% voter turnout, according to the Election Commission. Polling took place across 121 constituencies in 18 districts from 7 AM to 6 PM. Begusarai recorded the highest turnout at 67.32%, while Sheikhpura saw the lowest at 52.36%. Patna reported 55.02%. The Election Commission said Bihar may achieve its highest-ever voter turnout. VIP chief Mukesh Sahani called it “bumper voting” and predicted change in the state. The main contest is between NDA, Mahagathbandhan, and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party. (PC: HT)

The first phase of the Bihar assembly election 2025 saw a 53.77% voter turnout till 3 PM on Thursday. Polling began at 7 AM across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. Begusarai recorded the highest turnout at 59.82%, while Patna saw the lowest at 48.69%. A total of 3.75 crore voters are deciding the fate of 1,314 candidates. The main contest is between the NDA led by Nitish Kumar and the Mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav, with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party also in the fray. Voting will continue till 6 PM in most areas. (PC: X)