CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ ■ bhubaneswar l saturday l november 15, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 28 l jeypore EDITION VOTE SWING BJP saw positive swing of 0.27% votes vis-a-vis 2020; for JDU, it was 3.58%. Vote share of Chirag’s party dropped by 0.82% BJP :89 +15 JDU :85 +42 LJP(Rv) :19 +18 Oth :9 +5 NDA: 202 MGB: 32 RJD : 25 -50 CONG : 06 -13 Left : 03 -14 Oth : 1 VOTE SWING RJD lost 50 seats while registering a negative vote swing of -0.6%; Cong lost -0.88% votes as compared to 2022; Left’s share dipped by -0.4% The Congress party has become ‘Muslimleegi Seat difference compared to 2020 Bihar polls Seat difference compared to 2020 Bihar polls Maowadi Congress’ or TOTAL SEATS: 243 Majority: 122 MMC. It will witness NDA gets three-fourths majority; BJP single-largest party with about 90% strike rate; JD(U) close behind; a big split soon NiMo LANDSLIDE bickering INDIA bloc swept away; suffers heavy drubbing; second-worst performance by Congress — Narendra Modi, prime minister The NDA has achieved a massive majority by demonstrating complete unity. I thank all NDA partners. Bihar will progress even further and will be included in the category of the most developed states in the country — Nitish Kumar, chief minister r a m a s h an k a r @ Patna T HE ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) scored a victory for ages in Bihar Assembly election on Friday se, curing a commanding three-fourths majority. The NDA bagged 202 seats in the 243 member assembly The RJD‑Con, gress combine was not even close, garnering a meagre 35 seats. The drubbing has pushed the alliance to the periphery of Bihar’s political landscape. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 89 seats, while JD(U) won 85, LJP(RV) 19, HAM 5, and RLM 4. The opposition Mahagathbandhan suffered a crushing defeat: RJD won 25 seats, Congress 6, CPI(ML) 2, and CPM 1. The BJP and JD(U) contested 101 seats each, while LJP(RV) fielded candidates in 28. This year’s polls recorded a historic voter turnout of 66.91%—the highest since 1951. Women voters led with 71.6% participation, outpacing men (62.8%). Historically rising turnout has triggered government change , thrice in Bihar: 1967 (+7%, Congress ousted), 1980 (+6.8%), and 1990 (+5.7%, Congress again removed). But in 2025, the NDA defied that trend, delivering a blow to the Mahagathbandhan despite no significant anti-incumbency against Nitish Kumar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reinforced his political relevance through bold policies, including women’s reservation laws and welfare schemes for economically backward classes (EBCs). Despite concerns over age and health, Nitish passed the test of endurance and public trust. JD(U) retained strong support among Kurmi-Kushwaha communities, EBCs, women, and Dalits. Women voters were decisively consolidated via initiatives like Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Unlike 2020, when Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) dented JD(U)’s vote share, the 2025 polls saw complete NDA cohesion. The alliance fought united, with LJP(RV) fully aligned with BJP and JD(U). Nitish’s enduring popularity among women, coupled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated praise for their “jodi”, proved decisive. The NDA’s development narrative, unity, and targeted welfare outreach overwhelmed the opposition, marking a new era of dominance in Bihar politics. “The people of Bihar, with this massive victory and their unshakable confidence, have taken the state by storm,” PM Narendra Modi told jubilant supporters in Delhi. He said Bihar had replicated the old “communal M‑Y (Muslim-Yadav) formula” of Jungle Raj with a new “Mahila‑Yuva” partnership for growth. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, set to take oath for a record 10th time, thanked voters for the “landslide” verdict, attributing it to trust in his governance and the Centre’s support. His women‑centric schemes, particularly the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, which credited `10,000 to the accounts of over a crore women, coupled with pension hikes and free power, proved decisive. Terming the Bihar poll results a “victory of every Bihari”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the overwhelming mandate for the NDA is people’s stamp of approval on its work for development, women’s safety and the welfare of the poor. BJP president J P Nadda hailed NDA’s victory in Bihar polls as “historic”. This result is truly surprising. We could not achieve victory in a poll that was not fair from the beginning. The Congress and the INDIA bloc will review this result and make efforts to save democracy even more effective — Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Was it an election in Bihar as the outcome shows? No joblessness? Pain of migration fiction? Health and education doesn’t matter? Issues raise by @yadavtejashwi would remain core Bihari concern forever JD(U) members pose alongside a flex board of Nitish Kumar, in Patna on Friday | PTI PM Narendra Modi waves at supporters at BJP headquarters in New Delhi | Shekhar yadav 10th term gift to man of the moment, Nitish Modi attributes it to new M-Y — Mahila and Youth r a m a s h an k a r @ Patna r a j e s h k u m a r t h a k u r @ New Delhi WHEN the dust settles after Bihar’s high-voltage election, a singular truth will remain etched on the political map of the state: Nitish Kumar, the war veteran, still reigns supreme. At 74, the Janata Dal (United) chief is poised to take oath as chief minister for an unprecedented tenth time, steering the National Democratic Alliance to a gargantuan victory . Few leaders in modern India embody political survival like Nitish. Once taunted for shifting alliances at whim, Kumar has defied labels and fatigue alike, remaking himself to stay in tune with the state’s political nous. His Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana was a masterstroke, transferring `10,000 each to 1.4 crore women before the polls. The strategy clicked—women voters outnumbered men by 8.8%, sealing the NDA’s fate across even the Muslimmajority Seemanchal belt. Nitish’s campaign, built on welfare and welfare again, left little room for anti-incumbency Pensions up, electricity free up to 125 . units, and the promise of one crore new jobs—all wrapped in the familiar pledges of development and dignity “People have bha. rosa (faith) in Modi and Nitish,” said BJP’s Vinod Tawade. Outside the JD(U) office, one banner makes the mood unmistakable: “Tiger abhi zinda hai” (the tiger lives on.) PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday termed the NDA win in Bihar as a vote for pro-people governance and said BJP’s victory march will follow the flow of Ganga from Bihar to Bengal. Addressing workers at BJP headquarters in New Delhi in the evening, PM Modi said the mandate reflects public endorsement of development-focused governance, leaving no room for divisive strategies. He credited Bihar’s youth for voting decisively for the NDA. In a scathing attack on the Congress— which was reduced to its worst-ever tally — Modi accused the party of self-destruction through appeasement. Interestingly he predicted an imminent split in the Congress, , warning allies that “it ruins partners”, citing the RJD’s fate. Mocking Rahul Gandhi’s campaign antics, Modi said, “Some ‘naamdars’ are drowning themselves and their allies.” Opening his address with an invocation, “Jai Chhathi Maiya,” he condemned Congress’s alleged insult to the Bihari festival Chatth. Honouring Mithilanchal’s strong mandate for BJP, he wore a Mithila-painted gamchha (towel) and was garlanded with makhana. The PM unveiled a new “M-Y” formula—Mahila and Youth, and called the verdict a democratic triumph, assuring rapid progress under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. — Manoj Kumar Jha, RJD leader big winners Tejashwi Samrat Vijay Sinha Yadav (RJD) Choudhary (BJP) Raghopur (BJP) Tarapur Lakhisarai 14,532 45,843 24,940 top losers Mohd. Tej Pratap Shatrughan Shahnawaz Yadav (JJD) Yadav (RJD) (RJD) Baisi Mahua Chapra 8,456 24,940 2,592 V i c t o r y/ d e f e a t M a r g i n INSIDE Sops to women, BJP’s winning mantra | P7 BJP storms Nuapada as Dholakia Dr Umar Nabi’s house demolished triumphs with 83K vote margin F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar The BJP on Friday registered a resounding victory in the crucial Nuapada by-election with party candidate Jay Dholakia trouncing his opponent from the Congress by a margin of over 83,748 votes. While Dholakia secured 1,23, 869 votes, his nearest rival Congress’ Ghasiram Majhi was way behind with 40,121 votes and BJD’s Snehangini Chhuria relegated to the third position by polling 38,408 votes. There were indications of the BJP’s surge right from the first round of counting in the morning when Dholakia established a lead of 3,547 votes against his BJD rival. The lead of Dholakia continued to increase substantially as the counting progressed leaving the BJD and Congress candidates way behind. However, there was a tough contest between the Congress and BJD candidates to secure the second position and ultimately Majhi beat Chhuria to it. With the victory, the ruling BJP snatched the seat from the BJD. Death of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, the father of the BJP candidate, had necessitated the by-election. With the win, the BJP’s BJP candidate Jay Dholakia celebrates with his mother and party leaders after his victory in Nuapada bypoll, on Friday | Express strength in the Assembly has increased to 79 and the BJD tally has come down to 50. Reacting to his massive victory, Dholakia gave credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Majhi, state party president Manmohan Samal, his late father and people of Nuapada for the success. Dholakia took out a huge victory rally at Khariar Road after the result was declared. The BJP celebrated the victory at the state party headquarters here in the presence of the chief minister, Samal and other senior leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took note of the victory and congratulated Dholakia during his speech at the national BJP headquarters in New Delhi after the NDA’s landlside win in Bihar. Thanking the people of the constituency for blessing the BJP in the bypoll, Modi wished him very best for serving the people. He also complimented the BJP karyakartas who worked round-the-clock to ensure the win. Chief Minister Majhi said that the by-election marked a new chapter in the political landscape of Odisha. Stating that the victory shows people’s faith in the policies, ideals and programmes of the government, Majhi said the people of Nuapada have completely rejected the propaganda and false promises of opposition parties and given a clear mandate in favour of BJP by suppor ting the ideolo g y of development. CONTINUED ON P5 Security forces on Friday blew up the house of Dr Umar Nabi, the alleged suicide bomber who drove explosive laden i20 car that exploded near Red Fort in Delhi on Monday killing , Debris of the house 13 persons and injuring many . demolished by security forces Sources said Dr Nabi’s house in Quil village in Pulwama, at Quil village in Pulwama in south Kashmir, on Friday | pti south Kashmir was demolished in the wee hours on taken out of the house Friday, adding that the before the demolition. demolition was to send a Red D r U m a r, w h o strong message fort attack emerged as a key figagainst militants and ure in the inter-state militancy . white-collar militant The house was razed network, exploded his i20 to rubble in a controlled explosion. Some adjacent houses suf- car near Delhi’s Red Fort on fered minor damage in the con- Monday evening after his associates were detained and secutrolled explosion. The family members were rity agencies were zeroing in this edition includes 16 pages special supplement to mark Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on him. This is the second time this year that security forces have blown up houses of militants in the Valley After the April 22 . Pahalgam terror attack in which 25 tourists and a local were killed, security forces demolished houses of at least 10 militants in the Kashmir Valley . express read US lawmaker introduces bill to eliminate H1-B visa Washington: An American lawmaker will be introducing a bill to ‘completely eliminate’ the H-1B visa programme and take away the pathway to citizenship that it offers, ‘forcing’ individuals to ‘return home’ when their visa expires | P9 Data privacy Rules to protect your personal data notified R A K E SH KUM A R @ New Delhi The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Friday notified rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, marking the full operationalisation of India’s first digital privacy law. The rules will be rolled out in three phases. Some basic parts of the Act— rules for setting up the Data Protection Board and certain powers and proce- dures—will start on the day the notification is published. In the second phase, one year after publication, two provisions relating to withdrawing consent and a special obligation for large data-handling organisations will begin. The main sections — rules on how companies can collect and use personal data, how consent must be taken, rights of individuals, rules for children’s data, cross-border data trans- fers, data-breach duties, etc— will start after 18 months. Under the DPDP rules, companies must be able to show, not just claim, how call records, network logs and subscriber data are collected, retained, deleted and secured—with breach response, audit trails and vendor oversight all on the record. The phased rollout will give companies time to adjust their systems, say industry experts. Indian enterprises now have a clear roadmap on personal data-processing activities, said Murali Rao, Partner and Leader, Cybersecurity Consulting, at EY India.