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 ■ ■ Congress workers celebrate the party’s victory in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency bypoll at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad on Friday | PTI belagavi l Saturday l november 15, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city 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 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 Seat difference compared to 2020 Bihar polls Seat difference compared to 2020 Bihar polls 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 a n 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”. Dr Umar Nabi’s house demolished 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 a n 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. When trees bow in sorrow... Salumarada Thimmakka no more F AYA Z W AN I @ Srinagar B o s k y K h a n n a @ Bengaluru Security forces on Friday blew up the house of Red Dr Umar Nabi, the alfort attack leged suicide bomber who drove explosive laden i20 car that exploded near Red Fort in Delhi on Mon- Debris of the house demolished by day, killing 13 persons and in- security forces in Quil village in Pulwama, juring many. Sources said Dr south Kashmir, on Friday | pti Nabi’s house at Quil village in Pulwama in south Kashmir key figure in the inter-state was demolished in the wee white-collar militant network, hours on Friday, adding that exploded his i20 car near Delhi’s the demolition was to send a Red Fort on Monday evening afstrong message against mili- ter his associates were detained tants and militancy . and security agencies were zeroThe house was razed to rub- ing in on him. ble in a controlled explosion. This is the second time this Some adjacent houses suffered year that forces have blown up minor damage in the control- houses of militants in the Valled explosion. The family mem- ley After the April 22 Pahalgam . bers were taken out of the terror attack, security forces house before the demolition. demolished houses of at least Dr Umar, who emerged as a 10 militants in Kashmir. Karnataka’s environment and forest ambassador, Salumarada Thimmakka, who was known for her simplicity and child-like nature, breathed her last here on Friday . The 114-year-old environmentalist had been admitted to Apollo Hospital Jayanagar since November 2 for exacerbation of bronchial asthma and lower respiratory tract infection. She suffered a multi-organ failure due to prolonged illness and passed away at noon. “I am called by many names, but the first was Salumarada Ajji because of the trees I had planted,” she told TNIE during her interactions. She planted 385 banyan trees all by herself along a 4 km stretch of the State High- Salumarada Thimmakka way-94 between Hulikal and Kuddur. “I had no children. When my husband used to go to work, I would be alone, and that was when I took to planting trees. I took care of them like my children. That was when everyone started calling me Salumarada Thimmakka,” she had said. Though not sure of her exact birth date, her birthday was usually celebrated on June 30, 1911. From Gubbi taluk, she was married to Bikkala Chikkayya when she was 19 years old. She then moved to Hukilal village in Magadi taluk. Over the years, she planted 8,000 trees of other species on the same stretch. But in 2019, the state government had proposed to chop her favourite trees to widen the highway connecting Hassan. When Thimmakka and local residents protested, the plan was dropped and the stretch was declared protected with the title Green Highway P6 . I am saddened to hear the news of the demise of Vruksha Maathe, Saalumarada Thimmakka. Although Thimmakka left us today, her love for the environment is immortal. My tributes to the departed spirit — Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister — 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 | P9 express read Mid-day meals for PU students of KPS schools Govt notifies Digital Data Protection Rules Bengaluru: School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Friday said the government will extend the mid-day meal scheme to pre-university students in the Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) from the next academic year | P7 New Delhi: The Centre released the long-awaited Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2025 on Friday. The rules aim to give citizens control over their online data, allow them to check for misuse, and protect their privacy. 60-yr-old man mauled to death by stray near M’luru E x p r e s s New s Se r v i c e @ Mangaluru A 60-year-old man was mauled to death allegedly by a street dog at Kumpala on the outskirts of Mangaluru on Friday morning. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said the body of the deceased, Dayananda, was surrounded by blood stains and had multiple deep bite wounds. Local residents told the police that the man was seen walking around 3 am. “Initially, injuries on his body indicated that he was attacked by an animal. A forensic doctor, who visited the spot, too confirmed that the death was due to an animal attack. People saw a dog moving around with blood over its mouth. The dog was also found later, and there were clear blood stains on its body,” the commissioner said.  CONTINUED ON: P7