In a major setback for the Congress, its Jharkhand Rajya Sabha candidate Pranav Jha lost the election despite the ruling INDIA bloc enjoying a comfortable numerical strength in the Assembly. Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani secured a return to the Upper House with the backing of the BJP. The result triggered allegations of cross-voting within the INDIA bloc.
Jharkhand’s ruling JMM announced that it would not contest the assembly elections in neighbouring Bihar, claiming that the decision was taken in the wake of a “political conspiracy” by its allies RJD and Congress, which deprived it of seats as part of the Mahagathbandhan.
Fresh protests have been announced by the Adivasi Kurmi Samaj in Purulia district, West Bengal, fWor September 25, following violent clashes with police at Kotshila railway station. The Kurmi community has renewed its long-standing demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. This has led to significant disruptions with railway and road blockades across the state.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren was put under house arrest Sunday morning. This happened just hours before he was supposed to join a major protest by Adivasi groups against land acquisition for the proposed RIMS-2 hospital in Ranchi. Soren shared this information on social media, stating, “To prevent the voice of the tribal/indigenous farmers of Nagdi from being raised, the Jharkhand government has placed me under house arrest since this morning.”
The Congress is actively debating whether or not to join the proposed joint parliamentary committee (JPC) that will examine a bill that seeks resignation of Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers if they remain jailed for over 30 consecutive days over serious corruption charges.
