April 15, 2026

Enforcement Directorate AHMEDABAD: ED Friday arrested IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel from Gandhinagar in connection with a recently busted bribery-linked money laundering case in the Surendranagar district collector office, and produced him before a PMLA court in Ahmedabad.ED sought 10 days of custodial interrogation to probe information that the commission amount for granting approvals for change of land use from agricultural to non-agricultural was fixed, and that the accused amassed over Rs 10 crore. Judge K M Sojitra ordered Patel be sent to ED remand till Jan 7.In its remand application, ED quoted statements of co-accused in Surendranagar district collectorate’s racket of fixed bribe for speedy approvals of applications for land use change to assert that collector Rajendrakumar Patel used to receive 50% share of bribe collected while the rest was shared among other officers. The ED quoted another accused stating that Patel’s PA used to collect bribe money on his behalf and later handed it over to him.From ‘hisaab sheet’ of bribe money prepared by accused, ED said it traced 800 applications for NA permissions, from which the accused received a bribe amount of Rs 10 crore. End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosShankh Air Founder Speaks Out As Airline Eyes March Launch, Targets Intl Flights By 2029’Their Islamist Ideas…’: Ex-Bangladesh Minister Hits Out Over Attacks on Hindus And Christians’Very Petty & Shameful’: Shashi Tharoor On Row Over KKR Selecting Bangladeshi Player In IPLINLD President Calls For Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal Type Uprising In India Politics, Triggers RowBJP Claims Rahul Gandhi Ties To ‘Anti-India’ Panel Over US Lawmakers’ Umar Khalid LetterNot All Are Illiterate: Rajnath Singh Cites Red Fort Blast, Flags Educated, White Collar Terrorists’Arunachal Pradesh Is And Will Always Be…’ Jaishankar Warns China, Blasts Harassment Of IndiansBullet Train Gets August 15, 2027 India Launch Date, Minister Shares Details On Tunnel BreakthroughCleanest City Hit By Water Contamination As Lab Links Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak To Pipeline LeakUS Lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi Condemns Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh Urges Global Action Up123Photostories7 foods to combine with sweet potato for a wholesome breakfastOlder people who live happily, do these 10 things in their 30 and 40s8 winter pickles to add warmth and taste to your mealsLessons from centenarians: What the world’s longest-living people eat‘Shark Tank India Season 5’: FULL LIST of judges, their net worth, and the brands they ownKylie Jenner-Timothée Chalamet to complete 3 years of dating in 2026: 3 relationship lessons to learn from themHow to make Dhaba-style Dal Makhani at homeAttract True Love During the January 2026 Full Moon; According To Birth Number10 oldest trees in the world that are still living and where can they be foundBest mushroom varieties for vitamin D and how to cook them123Hot PicksPremarital Test OmanVande Bharat Sleeper TrainJanuary Bank holidayGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingSan Francisco 49ersBrittany MahomesNoah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield Net WorthWayne Gretzky Daughter Net WorthSidney Crosby LifestyleLeBron James vs Stephen Curry Net WorthTom BradyLeBron James WifeCam ThomasCharlie Kirk

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins
Enforcement Directorate AHMEDABAD: ED Friday arrested IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel from Gandhinagar in connection with a recently busted bribery-linked money laundering case in the Surendranagar district collector office, and produced him before a PMLA court in Ahmedabad.ED sought 10 days of custodial interrogation to probe information that the commission amount for granting approvals for change of land use from agricultural to non-agricultural was fixed, and that the accused amassed over Rs 10 crore. Judge K M Sojitra ordered Patel be sent to ED remand till Jan 7.In its remand application, ED quoted statements of co-accused in Surendranagar district collectorate’s racket of fixed bribe for speedy approvals of applications for land use change to assert that collector Rajendrakumar Patel used to receive 50% share of bribe collected while the rest was shared among other officers. The ED quoted another accused stating that Patel’s PA used to collect bribe money on his behalf and later handed it over to him.From ‘hisaab sheet’ of bribe money prepared by accused, ED said it traced 800 applications for NA permissions, from which the accused received a bribe amount of Rs 10 crore. End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosShankh Air Founder Speaks Out As Airline Eyes March Launch, Targets Intl Flights By 2029’Their Islamist Ideas…’: Ex-Bangladesh Minister Hits Out Over Attacks on Hindus And Christians’Very Petty & Shameful’: Shashi Tharoor On Row Over KKR Selecting Bangladeshi Player In IPLINLD President Calls For Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal Type Uprising In India Politics, Triggers RowBJP Claims Rahul Gandhi Ties To ‘Anti-India’ Panel Over US Lawmakers’ Umar Khalid LetterNot All Are Illiterate: Rajnath Singh Cites Red Fort Blast, Flags Educated, White Collar Terrorists’Arunachal Pradesh Is And Will Always Be…’ Jaishankar Warns China, Blasts Harassment Of IndiansBullet Train Gets August 15, 2027 India Launch Date, Minister Shares Details On Tunnel BreakthroughCleanest City Hit By Water Contamination As Lab Links Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak To Pipeline LeakUS Lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi Condemns Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh Urges Global Action Up123Photostories7 foods to combine with sweet potato for a wholesome breakfastOlder people who live happily, do these 10 things in their 30 and 40s8 winter pickles to add warmth and taste to your mealsLessons from centenarians: What the world’s longest-living people eat‘Shark Tank India Season 5’: FULL LIST of judges, their net worth, and the brands they ownKylie Jenner-Timothée Chalamet to complete 3 years of dating in 2026: 3 relationship lessons to learn from themHow to make Dhaba-style Dal Makhani at homeAttract True Love During the January 2026 Full Moon; According To Birth Number10 oldest trees in the world that are still living and where can they be foundBest mushroom varieties for vitamin D and how to cook them123Hot PicksPremarital Test OmanVande Bharat Sleeper TrainJanuary Bank holidayGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingSan Francisco 49ersBrittany MahomesNoah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield Net WorthWayne Gretzky Daughter Net WorthSidney Crosby LifestyleLeBron James vs Stephen Curry Net WorthTom BradyLeBron James WifeCam ThomasCharlie Kirk


ED arrests Gujarat IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel in graft-linked laundering case

AHMEDABAD: ED Friday arrested IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel from Gandhinagar in connection with a recently busted bribery-linked money laundering case in the Surendranagar district collector office, and produced him before a PMLA court in Ahmedabad.ED sought 10 days of custodial interrogation to probe information that the commission amount for granting approvals for change of land use from agricultural to non-agricultural was fixed, and that the accused amassed over Rs 10 crore. Judge K M Sojitra ordered Patel be sent to ED remand till Jan 7.In its remand application, ED quoted statements of co-accused in Surendranagar district collectorate’s racket of fixed bribe for speedy approvals of applications for land use change to assert that collector Rajendrakumar Patel used to receive 50% share of bribe collected while the rest was shared among other officers. The ED quoted another accused stating that Patel’s PA used to collect bribe money on his behalf and later handed it over to him.From ‘hisaab sheet’ of bribe money prepared by accused, ED said it traced 800 applications for NA permissions, from which the accused received a bribe amount of Rs 10 crore.



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NEW DELHI: Russian president Vladimir Putin will be visitng India for the Brics summit, an annual meeting of leaders from BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newer member countries, to discuss economic cooperation, trade, global governance, and geopolitical issues.It serves as a platform for emerging economies to coordinate policies and present a collective voice on major international matters.This is a developing story…About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide ProtestsDelimitation Bill Includes Provision For EC To Conduct Exercise In PoK When Conditions ChangeIMF Raises India’s FY27 Growth Outlook to 6.5% Despite Global Slowdown, Flags Rising Risks123PhotostoriesChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know aboutCommon snakes found in Japan: Species, habitats, and which ones are dangerous5 dog breeds that look like lions (and why everyone’s obsessed with them)Mumbai suburban rail expansion: Kurla–Parel 5th & 6th line project back on track after land push; what we know123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold RateBIE AP inter Result ReleasedMP Board Result Official WebsiteCBSE Class 10 ResultMP Board Class 10th result 2026Zoji La TunnelNFL Trade RumorsIPL Points TableUS VP pick 2020Lonna Drewes

NEW DELHI: Russian president Vladimir Putin will be visitng India for the Brics summit, an annual meeting of leaders from BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newer member countries, to discuss economic cooperation, trade, global governance, and geopolitical issues.It serves as a platform for emerging economies to coordinate policies and present a collective voice on major international matters.This is a developing story…About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide ProtestsDelimitation Bill Includes Provision For EC To Conduct Exercise In PoK When Conditions ChangeIMF Raises India’s FY27 Growth Outlook to 6.5% Despite Global Slowdown, Flags Rising Risks123PhotostoriesChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know aboutCommon snakes found in Japan: Species, habitats, and which ones are dangerous5 dog breeds that look like lions (and why everyone’s obsessed with them)Mumbai suburban rail expansion: Kurla–Parel 5th & 6th line project back on track after land push; what we know123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold RateBIE AP inter Result ReleasedMP Board Result Official WebsiteCBSE Class 10 ResultMP Board Class 10th result 2026Zoji La TunnelNFL Trade RumorsIPL Points TableUS VP pick 2020Lonna Drewes

Vamsikrishna 0
. When the 106th Constitutional Amendment passed through both Houses of Parliament in September 2023, 454 votes in favour in the Lok Sabha, unanimous in the Rajya Sabha, it was hailed as a historic moment. But laws have a way of living in the gap between their passage and their implementation. Nearly two and a half years later, Parliament has been called back to close it.Lawmakers will attempt to do what thirty years of political wrangling could not, give India’s women a guaranteed seat at the table of power. The occasion is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, better known as the Women’s Reservation Bill.Bill at a glanceThe Women’s Reservation Bill, formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, is a constitutional amendment that reserves 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. It is not a new idea. Bills amending the Constitution to reserve seats for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies had been introduced in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2008. The first three lapsed with the dissolution of their respective Lok Sabhas, while the 2008 Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha but lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. That makes the 2023 passage the culmination of a legislative struggle spanning nearly three decades. one repeatedly derailed by coalition arithmetic, ideological disagreement, and, at times, outright hostility. When the bill was finally passed in 2023, it did so in the brand-new Parliament building, a symbolism the government was keen to underscore. Women constituted less than 15 per cent of the Lok Sabha’s membership and, in state assemblies, women made up less than 10 per cent of members in a majority of legislative bodies across the country. This is the inequality the bill was designed to correct. The House after reformIf the proposed changes are carried through, the shape of India’s Parliament will be fundamentally altered, both in size and in representation.The Lok Sabha is expected to expand significantly from its current strength of 543 seats to 850, reflecting decades of population growth since the last revision in 1976. Of these, 815 seats would be allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories.Within this expanded House, one-third of the seats, around 283, would be reserved for women, marking the first time such a quota is implemented at the national level.What exists and what is still missingThe bill coincides with the 30th anniversary of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments of 1993, which introduced panchayats and municipalities into the Constitution and reserved one-third of the seats in local bodies for women. That experiment, spanning three decades, has delivered real results. But that reservation stopped at the village and municipal level. The Constitution, as it stood until 2023, contained no provision for reserving seats for women in the Lok Sabha or state assemblies, a lacuna that took 75 years to formally address.That lacuna matters in proportion to what Parliament decides. From criminal laws to maternity benefits, from property rights to policies on gender-based violence, the decisions made in Parliament affect women’s lives at every level. A 2003 study about the effect of reservation for women in panchayats showed that women elected under the reservation policy invest more in public goods closely linked to women’s concerns. The case for extending that principle upward to Parliament is not merely symbolic.Why 2023 wasn’t the finish lineThe Act as passed in 2023 carried within it the seeds of its own delay. The 2023 constitutional amendment provided for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, but this quota would only come into effect after the completion of the delimitation exercise based on the 2027 Census, meaning the reservation would not be enforceable before 2034 under the original law. The reservation would be effective after the census conducted after the commencement of the bill has been published, and based on that census, delimitation would be undertaken to reserve seats for women. The logic is that you cannot decide which constituencies are to be reserved for women until you know how many constituencies exist and where their boundaries lie and that requires both a fresh census and the delimitation exercise that follows it.With Census 2021 still unfinished, delayed significantly by the Covid-19 pandemic and the next census now pencilled in for 2027, would be pushed well past the 2029 general elections. The amendment, for all practical purposes, was law in name only.Special Session: Why now?The government now proposes to amend the legislation to base implementation on the 2011 Census, ensuring the reservation is in force before the 2029 general election. To do this, Parliament must amend Section 5 of the Act, which currently links women’s reservation to a delimitation exercise following the first census after the law’s commencement. As a constitutional change, Article 368(2) mandates approval in both Houses by a majority of total members and at least two-thirds of those present and voting, a high bar that requires at least some opposition support.Alongside the amendment to the Women’s Reservation Act, the government is introducing a Delimitation Bill that would dramatically redraw the electoral map, which, as mentioned above may increase from 543 to 850 post-amendment. India’s population has changed substantially since the current 543-seat House was last calibrated. The freeze on seat numbers, in place since 1976, were designed to prevent states that controlled their population from being penalised in Parliament. Revisiting it now, in 2026, is as much a statement about national demographics as it is about women’s rights. Delimitation debateDelimitation is a periodic exercise undertaken to redraw constituency boundaries and allocate seats in line with changes in population, ensuring fair representation for states. India has conducted such exercises several times since independence. The first was carried out in 1952 based on the 1951 Census, allocating 494 Lok Sabha seats. Subsequent exercises followed in 1963 and 1973. During the 1973 delimitation, based on the 1971 Census, the number of seats was fixed at 543, when India’s population stood at approximately 54.8 crore. That number has remained unchanged ever since.The government’s current proposal to significantly expand the Lok Sabha to around 850 seats has triggered a sharp debate, largely centred on a perceived North–South divide. Since the proposed redistribution is expected to be based primarily on population, northern states, where population growth has been higher, are likely to gain a larger share of seats. In contrast, southern states, which have seen slower population growth, could see their relative representation decline.States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have consistently argued that population alone should not determine representation. They point out that decades of effective family planning have resulted in lower birth rates and warn that a purely population-based approach would unfairly penalise them for this success. Meanwhile, more populous states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh stand to gain disproportionately.M K Stalin, for instance, argued that states which followed the Union government’s push for population control should not now be disadvantaged. Echoing this concern, the Telangana CM wrote to PM Modi and fellow southern leaders, urging them to resist any expansion of the Lok Sabha based solely on population metrics. In his letter, he warned that such a move would skew representation and instead proposed a “hybrid model” that factors in economic contribution and development indicators alongside population.Two sides of the argumentOn the surface, the bill enjoys near-universal support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to floor leaders of all parties in both Houses, seeking their support for the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, emphasising that “this moment stands above any party or individual.” But agreement on the destination has not produced agreement on the route, and the opposition’s objections are pointed.Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has criticised the government’s approach, noting that no draft amendments have been shared with opposition parties. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote directly to the prime minister, arguing that without details of the delimitation and other aspects, it would be impossible to have any useful discussion on this historic law and that the special sitting had been called without taking the opposition into confidence. The timing compounds these concerns. The session has been called during ongoing state elections, with polls concluding on April 29, 2026, leaving opposition MPs torn between campaigning and parliamentary attendance. Mallikarjun Kharge suggested that if the government genuinely wanted to move forward collaboratively, it should convene an all-party meeting after those elections conclude.A democratic arithmetic problemThere is one final lens through which this bill deserves examination: the sheer arithmetic of representation.Women constitute approximately 48.5 per cent of India’s population. Men make up roughly 51.5 per cent. The bill’s 33 per cent reservation for women falls significantly short of proportional representation. Critics argue that the bill, while a step forward, does not reflect the actual demographic weight of women in India’s democracy. Defenders of the 33 per cent figure point out that it matches the benchmark already established in panchayats and municipalities and that it represents a realistic floor rather than an aspirational ceiling. The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years, though it shall continue till such date as determined by a law made by Parliament, and seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation. The rotation mechanism means that no constituency will be permanently designated as a women’s seat, an attempt to prevent the permanent restriction of voter choice in any one area.Where it standsWhat began as a legislative demand in 1996 has become, thirty years later, a constitutional amendment in search of implementation. The special session will determine whether Parliament finds the political consensus to finally bridge that gap before the 2029 elections.The bill itself, in spirit, has no credible opposition. According to political analysts, the question is whether the opposition can afford to vote against the bill during an election season, as it may impact their electoral standing in the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. No party in India’s current political landscape is willing to be seen as voting against women’s representation.All the arguments about seats and states and census data are real. But underneath all of it is that women have been left out of the rooms where decisions about their lives are made, for a very long time. That is what this bill is about.About the AuthorManya JainA writer at Times of India, I cover the stories that live in the gaps — between a screen and real life, between what we’re sold and what we actually feel. I try bring curiosity and candour to everything I write, whether I’m digging into global affairs, modern relationships, or the quieter anxieties of everyday life.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide ProtestsDelimitation Bill Includes Provision For EC To Conduct Exercise In PoK When Conditions ChangeIMF Raises India’s FY27 Growth Outlook to 6.5% Despite Global Slowdown, Flags Rising RisksIran’s Chokehold On Hormuz: How Prepared Is India To Tackle Naval Mine Threat?123Photostories6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know aboutCommon snakes found in Japan: Species, habitats, and which ones are dangerous5 dog breeds that look like lions (and why everyone’s obsessed with them)Mumbai suburban rail expansion: Kurla–Parel 5th & 6th line project back on track after land push; what we know7 work habits that quietly give you your life back (Without burning out)123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold RateBIE AP inter Result ReleasedMP Board Result Official WebsiteCBSE Class 10 ResultMP Board Class 10th result 2026Zoji La TunnelNFL Trade RumorsIPL Points TableUS VP pick 2020Lonna Drewes

. When the 106th Constitutional Amendment passed through both Houses of Parliament in September 2023, 454 votes in favour in the Lok Sabha, unanimous in the Rajya Sabha, it was hailed as a historic moment. But laws have a way of living in the gap between their passage and their implementation. Nearly two and a half years later, Parliament has been called back to close it.Lawmakers will attempt to do what thirty years of political wrangling could not, give India’s women a guaranteed seat at the table of power. The occasion is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, better known as the Women’s Reservation Bill.Bill at a glanceThe Women’s Reservation Bill, formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, is a constitutional amendment that reserves 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. It is not a new idea. Bills amending the Constitution to reserve seats for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies had been introduced in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2008. The first three lapsed with the dissolution of their respective Lok Sabhas, while the 2008 Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha but lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. That makes the 2023 passage the culmination of a legislative struggle spanning nearly three decades. one repeatedly derailed by coalition arithmetic, ideological disagreement, and, at times, outright hostility. When the bill was finally passed in 2023, it did so in the brand-new Parliament building, a symbolism the government was keen to underscore. Women constituted less than 15 per cent of the Lok Sabha’s membership and, in state assemblies, women made up less than 10 per cent of members in a majority of legislative bodies across the country. This is the inequality the bill was designed to correct. The House after reformIf the proposed changes are carried through, the shape of India’s Parliament will be fundamentally altered, both in size and in representation.The Lok Sabha is expected to expand significantly from its current strength of 543 seats to 850, reflecting decades of population growth since the last revision in 1976. Of these, 815 seats would be allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories.Within this expanded House, one-third of the seats, around 283, would be reserved for women, marking the first time such a quota is implemented at the national level.What exists and what is still missingThe bill coincides with the 30th anniversary of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments of 1993, which introduced panchayats and municipalities into the Constitution and reserved one-third of the seats in local bodies for women. That experiment, spanning three decades, has delivered real results. But that reservation stopped at the village and municipal level. The Constitution, as it stood until 2023, contained no provision for reserving seats for women in the Lok Sabha or state assemblies, a lacuna that took 75 years to formally address.That lacuna matters in proportion to what Parliament decides. From criminal laws to maternity benefits, from property rights to policies on gender-based violence, the decisions made in Parliament affect women’s lives at every level. A 2003 study about the effect of reservation for women in panchayats showed that women elected under the reservation policy invest more in public goods closely linked to women’s concerns. The case for extending that principle upward to Parliament is not merely symbolic.Why 2023 wasn’t the finish lineThe Act as passed in 2023 carried within it the seeds of its own delay. The 2023 constitutional amendment provided for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, but this quota would only come into effect after the completion of the delimitation exercise based on the 2027 Census, meaning the reservation would not be enforceable before 2034 under the original law. The reservation would be effective after the census conducted after the commencement of the bill has been published, and based on that census, delimitation would be undertaken to reserve seats for women. The logic is that you cannot decide which constituencies are to be reserved for women until you know how many constituencies exist and where their boundaries lie and that requires both a fresh census and the delimitation exercise that follows it.With Census 2021 still unfinished, delayed significantly by the Covid-19 pandemic and the next census now pencilled in for 2027, would be pushed well past the 2029 general elections. The amendment, for all practical purposes, was law in name only.Special Session: Why now?The government now proposes to amend the legislation to base implementation on the 2011 Census, ensuring the reservation is in force before the 2029 general election. To do this, Parliament must amend Section 5 of the Act, which currently links women’s reservation to a delimitation exercise following the first census after the law’s commencement. As a constitutional change, Article 368(2) mandates approval in both Houses by a majority of total members and at least two-thirds of those present and voting, a high bar that requires at least some opposition support.Alongside the amendment to the Women’s Reservation Act, the government is introducing a Delimitation Bill that would dramatically redraw the electoral map, which, as mentioned above may increase from 543 to 850 post-amendment. India’s population has changed substantially since the current 543-seat House was last calibrated. The freeze on seat numbers, in place since 1976, were designed to prevent states that controlled their population from being penalised in Parliament. Revisiting it now, in 2026, is as much a statement about national demographics as it is about women’s rights. Delimitation debateDelimitation is a periodic exercise undertaken to redraw constituency boundaries and allocate seats in line with changes in population, ensuring fair representation for states. India has conducted such exercises several times since independence. The first was carried out in 1952 based on the 1951 Census, allocating 494 Lok Sabha seats. Subsequent exercises followed in 1963 and 1973. During the 1973 delimitation, based on the 1971 Census, the number of seats was fixed at 543, when India’s population stood at approximately 54.8 crore. That number has remained unchanged ever since.The government’s current proposal to significantly expand the Lok Sabha to around 850 seats has triggered a sharp debate, largely centred on a perceived North–South divide. Since the proposed redistribution is expected to be based primarily on population, northern states, where population growth has been higher, are likely to gain a larger share of seats. In contrast, southern states, which have seen slower population growth, could see their relative representation decline.States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have consistently argued that population alone should not determine representation. They point out that decades of effective family planning have resulted in lower birth rates and warn that a purely population-based approach would unfairly penalise them for this success. Meanwhile, more populous states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh stand to gain disproportionately.M K Stalin, for instance, argued that states which followed the Union government’s push for population control should not now be disadvantaged. Echoing this concern, the Telangana CM wrote to PM Modi and fellow southern leaders, urging them to resist any expansion of the Lok Sabha based solely on population metrics. In his letter, he warned that such a move would skew representation and instead proposed a “hybrid model” that factors in economic contribution and development indicators alongside population.Two sides of the argumentOn the surface, the bill enjoys near-universal support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to floor leaders of all parties in both Houses, seeking their support for the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, emphasising that “this moment stands above any party or individual.” But agreement on the destination has not produced agreement on the route, and the opposition’s objections are pointed.Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has criticised the government’s approach, noting that no draft amendments have been shared with opposition parties. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote directly to the prime minister, arguing that without details of the delimitation and other aspects, it would be impossible to have any useful discussion on this historic law and that the special sitting had been called without taking the opposition into confidence. The timing compounds these concerns. The session has been called during ongoing state elections, with polls concluding on April 29, 2026, leaving opposition MPs torn between campaigning and parliamentary attendance. Mallikarjun Kharge suggested that if the government genuinely wanted to move forward collaboratively, it should convene an all-party meeting after those elections conclude.A democratic arithmetic problemThere is one final lens through which this bill deserves examination: the sheer arithmetic of representation.Women constitute approximately 48.5 per cent of India’s population. Men make up roughly 51.5 per cent. The bill’s 33 per cent reservation for women falls significantly short of proportional representation. Critics argue that the bill, while a step forward, does not reflect the actual demographic weight of women in India’s democracy. Defenders of the 33 per cent figure point out that it matches the benchmark already established in panchayats and municipalities and that it represents a realistic floor rather than an aspirational ceiling. The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years, though it shall continue till such date as determined by a law made by Parliament, and seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation. The rotation mechanism means that no constituency will be permanently designated as a women’s seat, an attempt to prevent the permanent restriction of voter choice in any one area.Where it standsWhat began as a legislative demand in 1996 has become, thirty years later, a constitutional amendment in search of implementation. The special session will determine whether Parliament finds the political consensus to finally bridge that gap before the 2029 elections.The bill itself, in spirit, has no credible opposition. According to political analysts, the question is whether the opposition can afford to vote against the bill during an election season, as it may impact their electoral standing in the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. No party in India’s current political landscape is willing to be seen as voting against women’s representation.All the arguments about seats and states and census data are real. But underneath all of it is that women have been left out of the rooms where decisions about their lives are made, for a very long time. That is what this bill is about.About the AuthorManya JainA writer at Times of India, I cover the stories that live in the gaps — between a screen and real life, between what we’re sold and what we actually feel. I try bring curiosity and candour to everything I write, whether I’m digging into global affairs, modern relationships, or the quieter anxieties of everyday life.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide ProtestsDelimitation Bill Includes Provision For EC To Conduct Exercise In PoK When Conditions ChangeIMF Raises India’s FY27 Growth Outlook to 6.5% Despite Global Slowdown, Flags Rising RisksIran’s Chokehold On Hormuz: How Prepared Is India To Tackle Naval Mine Threat?123Photostories6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know aboutCommon snakes found in Japan: Species, habitats, and which ones are dangerous5 dog breeds that look like lions (and why everyone’s obsessed with them)Mumbai suburban rail expansion: Kurla–Parel 5th & 6th line project back on track after land push; what we know7 work habits that quietly give you your life back (Without burning out)123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold RateBIE AP inter Result ReleasedMP Board Result Official WebsiteCBSE Class 10 ResultMP Board Class 10th result 2026Zoji La TunnelNFL Trade RumorsIPL Points TableUS VP pick 2020Lonna Drewes

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Nitish Kumar while leaving after attending a cabinet meeting at the Old Secretariat in Patna. Samrat Choudhary, who is now the Bihar CM, and others were also seen. (PTI photo) With Nitish Kumar stepping aside, Bihar’s political transition has unfolded much as expected since he announced his move to the Rajya Sabha. Once Nitish signalled his exit from state politics, the BJP move to elevate Samrat Choudhary, its most prominent and politically viable face in Bihar, to take charge of the government. However, the landmark transition in Magadh had its own flavour of twists and turns coupled with Nitish’s flip-flops. The man who once tied a saffron muretha on his head as a public pledge to unseat Nitish has now taken over the chair that the JD(U) chief occupied for two decades. Samrat Choudhary’s long and theatrical vow has come full circle, not through confrontation, but through the one force in politics that, when timed right, almost always delivers results. Patience. Chosen unanimously as leader of the NDA legislature party, Samrat Choudhary now becomes the new face of power in Bihar and the first BJP leader to head the state government. His rise marks a defining moment not only for the BJP’s expansion in Bihar but also for a politician whose career has been built on reinvention, ambition and sharp political instincts.BJP leader and newly appointed Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary at the oath-taking ceremony, administered by the Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain (unseen), held at Lok Bhavan, Patna, on Wednesday. Samrat’s political arch Choudhary’s journey to the top has hardly followed a conventional BJP path. Unlike many leaders nurtured within the Sangh ecosystem, he comes from outside that fold. His father, veteran politician Shakuni Choudhary, was a founding member of the Samata Party and a contemporary of both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. Samrat himself began in the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the 1990s and entered government early, serving as a minister under Rabri Devi. Over the years, he moved across political camps, spending time in the JD(U) before eventually joining the BJP. That shift transformed his career. Since entering the party, his rise has been swift and steep. In less than a decade, he climbed from a late entrant to state president, then deputy chief minister, and now chief minister.Samrat Choudhary’s political journey The intertwined rise of Samrat & BJP The BJP’s rise in Bihar has been gradual but unmistakable. In the 2015 assembly elections, it emerged as the single largest party in terms of vote share, securing 25 percent votes and 53 seats, yet remained out of power as the RJD and JD(U), with 80 and 71 seats respectively, combined under the Mahagathbandhan to form government. When Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA in 2017, the balance within the alliance had already begun to change. That shift became clear in the 2020 elections, when the BJP outperformed the JD(U), winning 74 seats against its ally’s 43. Nitish Kumar continued as chief minister, but the BJP had firmly established itself as the stronger force in the coalition.By the 2025 elections, that transformation was complete. Although the NDA once again fought under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the BJP emerged as the dominant partner with 89 seats, ahead of the JD(U)’s 85. Even as Nitish retained the chief minister’s post, the BJP tightened its grip on the government by securing crucial ministries such as Home. Within a year, that growing dominance culminated in the party installing Samrat Choudhary as Bihar’s first BJP chief minister.The muretha vowThe turning point came in 2022, when Nitish Kumar broke with the NDA and joined hands with the RJD again. The BJP responded by handing Choudhary the reins of its Bihar unit. It was then that he made the vow that came to define his political persona. Wearing a muretha at every public appearance, he declared he would not remove it until Nitish Kumar was no longer chief minister.The image stuck. The turban became both a political symbol and a personal brand. For nearly two years, it marked him as Nitish’s most visible challenger. Then came the irony.When Nitish returned to the NDA in 2024 and Choudhary himself became deputy chief minister in the new coalition, the old rivalry gave way to partnership.Soon after, in Ayodhya, Choudhary brought the symbolism to an end.After offering prayers and taking a dip in the Saryu, he removed the muretha and offered it at the temple, declaring his vow fulfilled. At the time, Nitish was still in office. Now, with Nitish’s exit from Bihar and move to the Rajya Sabha, the deeper meaning of that oath finally seems to have been realised.About Samrat Choudhary Why has BJP backed Samrat For the BJP, Choudhary checks several strategic boxes. He is among the party’s strongest OBC faces in Bihar and belongs to the Kushwaha or Koeri community, a politically influential bloc that forms a significant part of the state’s electorate. Combined with the Kurmi base long associated with Nitish Kumar, this gives the BJP a stronger social coalition among backward caste voters. How will caste arithmetic play out By placing Choudhary, a prominent Kushwaha leader, in the chief minister’s chair, the BJP is making a direct bid for the Koeri-Kushwaha vote, a politically influential bloc within Bihar’s non-Yadav OBC spectrum. The Kushwaha community alone accounts for about 4.2 percent of the state’s population and forms a crucial segment of the 12.86 percent non-Yadav OBC electorate that the BJP has been aggressively courting in recent years.Caste arithmatic in BiharThis move also allows the BJP to partially inherit Nitish Kumar’s backward caste arithmetic while reducing dependence on him. Nitish’s strength has long rested on the Extremely Backward Classes, or EBCs, which make up 36.01 percent of Bihar’s population. Though fragmented across 113 castes, a substantial non-Muslim EBC section, combined with Kurmi and Koeri voters, has traditionally rallied behind him. With Nitish stepping aside, the BJP is attempting to prevent that bloc from drifting by projecting Choudhary as a backward caste leader capable of holding together sections of that support base. The BJP retains its traditional upper-caste base among Brahmins, Rajputs, Bhumihars and Kayasthas, while steadily expanding among non-Yadav OBCs and EBCs. Beyond caste Samrat’s appeal lies not only in caste arithmetic. Choudhary has been active in Bihar politics since 1990 and has seen every major political phase in the state, from Mandal-era churn to coalition realignments and BJP expansion. That long experience, paired with his administrative exposure in key ministries such as finance, urban development and panchayati raj, has helped position him as more than just a symbolic appointment.His rise has often drawn comparisons with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Like Sarma, Choudhary came into the BJP from outside, carried baggage from earlier political affiliations, and yet became one of the most trusted regional leaders for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. There have also been controversies along the way. His name surfaced in a 1995 murder case, though he has consistently denied wrongdoing and says no charges were framed against him. In 1999, questions over his age briefly forced him to resign from ministerial office. Political opponents have also raised doubts about his educational disclosures. None of these episodes, however, has slowed his ascent. What makes his appointment politically potent is the layered irony it carries. The man who built his recent identity around opposition to Nitish Kumar has inherited Bihar only after becoming Nitish’s ally. The challenger has become the successor. In Magadh, where political memory runs deep and symbols matter, that arc gives this transition unusual weight. Bihar has a new Choudhary now, and his muretha vow, once seen as dramatic posturing, has largely ended as prophecy fulfilled.About the AuthorRajeev SinghRajeev Singh is a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India. He covers politics, policies, defence, and conflicts for readers curious to know their implications. He loves digging into legal maxims and political trivia. On off days, when not turning pages or learning русский, he lives in the reverie of “what ifs” and “how abouts.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide ProtestsDelimitation Bill Includes Provision For EC To Conduct Exercise In PoK When Conditions ChangeIMF Raises India’s FY27 Growth Outlook to 6.5% Despite Global Slowdown, Flags Rising RisksIran’s Chokehold On Hormuz: How Prepared Is India To Tackle Naval Mine Threat?Pawan Khera Faces Setback As SC Stays Bail, Cites Jurisdiction Issue In Assam CM Passport Row CaseTharoor Pushes EU-Inspired Model Amid Rising Concerns Over Delimitation123PhotostoriesRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know aboutCommon snakes found in Japan: Species, habitats, and which ones are dangerous5 dog breeds that look like lions (and why everyone’s obsessed with them)Mumbai suburban rail expansion: Kurla–Parel 5th & 6th line project back on track after land push; what we knowKeep these flowers in your bedroom to strengthen your relationship (by Number)Ditch the usual shada-laal:The saree guide you didn’t know you needed this Poila Boishakh123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold RateBIE AP inter Result ReleasedMP Board Result Official WebsiteCBSE Class 10 ResultMP Board Class 10th result 2026Zoji La TunnelNFL Trade RumorsIPL Points TableUS VP pick 2020Lonna Drewes

Nitish Kumar while leaving after attending a cabinet meeting at the Old Secretariat in Patna. Samrat Choudhary, who is now the Bihar CM, and others were also seen. (PTI photo) With Nitish Kumar stepping aside, Bihar’s political transition has unfolded much as expected since he announced his move to the Rajya Sabha. Once Nitish signalled his exit from state politics, the BJP move to elevate Samrat Choudhary, its most prominent and politically viable face in Bihar, to take charge of the government. However, the landmark transition in Magadh had its own flavour of twists and turns coupled with Nitish’s flip-flops. The man who once tied a saffron muretha on his head as a public pledge to unseat Nitish has now taken over the chair that the JD(U) chief occupied for two decades. Samrat Choudhary’s long and theatrical vow has come full circle, not through confrontation, but through the one force in politics that, when timed right, almost always delivers results. Patience. Chosen unanimously as leader of the NDA legislature party, Samrat Choudhary now becomes the new face of power in Bihar and the first BJP leader to head the state government. His rise marks a defining moment not only for the BJP’s expansion in Bihar but also for a politician whose career has been built on reinvention, ambition and sharp political instincts.BJP leader and newly appointed Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary at the oath-taking ceremony, administered by the Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain (unseen), held at Lok Bhavan, Patna, on Wednesday. Samrat’s political arch Choudhary’s journey to the top has hardly followed a conventional BJP path. Unlike many leaders nurtured within the Sangh ecosystem, he comes from outside that fold. His father, veteran politician Shakuni Choudhary, was a founding member of the Samata Party and a contemporary of both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. Samrat himself began in the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the 1990s and entered government early, serving as a minister under Rabri Devi. Over the years, he moved across political camps, spending time in the JD(U) before eventually joining the BJP. That shift transformed his career. Since entering the party, his rise has been swift and steep. In less than a decade, he climbed from a late entrant to state president, then deputy chief minister, and now chief minister.Samrat Choudhary’s political journey The intertwined rise of Samrat & BJP The BJP’s rise in Bihar has been gradual but unmistakable. In the 2015 assembly elections, it emerged as the single largest party in terms of vote share, securing 25 percent votes and 53 seats, yet remained out of power as the RJD and JD(U), with 80 and 71 seats respectively, combined under the Mahagathbandhan to form government. When Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA in 2017, the balance within the alliance had already begun to change. That shift became clear in the 2020 elections, when the BJP outperformed the JD(U), winning 74 seats against its ally’s 43. Nitish Kumar continued as chief minister, but the BJP had firmly established itself as the stronger force in the coalition.By the 2025 elections, that transformation was complete. Although the NDA once again fought under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the BJP emerged as the dominant partner with 89 seats, ahead of the JD(U)’s 85. Even as Nitish retained the chief minister’s post, the BJP tightened its grip on the government by securing crucial ministries such as Home. Within a year, that growing dominance culminated in the party installing Samrat Choudhary as Bihar’s first BJP chief minister.The muretha vowThe turning point came in 2022, when Nitish Kumar broke with the NDA and joined hands with the RJD again. The BJP responded by handing Choudhary the reins of its Bihar unit. It was then that he made the vow that came to define his political persona. Wearing a muretha at every public appearance, he declared he would not remove it until Nitish Kumar was no longer chief minister.The image stuck. The turban became both a political symbol and a personal brand. For nearly two years, it marked him as Nitish’s most visible challenger. Then came the irony.When Nitish returned to the NDA in 2024 and Choudhary himself became deputy chief minister in the new coalition, the old rivalry gave way to partnership.Soon after, in Ayodhya, Choudhary brought the symbolism to an end.After offering prayers and taking a dip in the Saryu, he removed the muretha and offered it at the temple, declaring his vow fulfilled. At the time, Nitish was still in office. Now, with Nitish’s exit from Bihar and move to the Rajya Sabha, the deeper meaning of that oath finally seems to have been realised.About Samrat Choudhary Why has BJP backed Samrat For the BJP, Choudhary checks several strategic boxes. He is among the party’s strongest OBC faces in Bihar and belongs to the Kushwaha or Koeri community, a politically influential bloc that forms a significant part of the state’s electorate. Combined with the Kurmi base long associated with Nitish Kumar, this gives the BJP a stronger social coalition among backward caste voters. How will caste arithmetic play out By placing Choudhary, a prominent Kushwaha leader, in the chief minister’s chair, the BJP is making a direct bid for the Koeri-Kushwaha vote, a politically influential bloc within Bihar’s non-Yadav OBC spectrum. The Kushwaha community alone accounts for about 4.2 percent of the state’s population and forms a crucial segment of the 12.86 percent non-Yadav OBC electorate that the BJP has been aggressively courting in recent years.Caste arithmatic in BiharThis move also allows the BJP to partially inherit Nitish Kumar’s backward caste arithmetic while reducing dependence on him. Nitish’s strength has long rested on the Extremely Backward Classes, or EBCs, which make up 36.01 percent of Bihar’s population. Though fragmented across 113 castes, a substantial non-Muslim EBC section, combined with Kurmi and Koeri voters, has traditionally rallied behind him. With Nitish stepping aside, the BJP is attempting to prevent that bloc from drifting by projecting Choudhary as a backward caste leader capable of holding together sections of that support base. The BJP retains its traditional upper-caste base among Brahmins, Rajputs, Bhumihars and Kayasthas, while steadily expanding among non-Yadav OBCs and EBCs. Beyond caste Samrat’s appeal lies not only in caste arithmetic. Choudhary has been active in Bihar politics since 1990 and has seen every major political phase in the state, from Mandal-era churn to coalition realignments and BJP expansion. That long experience, paired with his administrative exposure in key ministries such as finance, urban development and panchayati raj, has helped position him as more than just a symbolic appointment.His rise has often drawn comparisons with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Like Sarma, Choudhary came into the BJP from outside, carried baggage from earlier political affiliations, and yet became one of the most trusted regional leaders for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. There have also been controversies along the way. His name surfaced in a 1995 murder case, though he has consistently denied wrongdoing and says no charges were framed against him. In 1999, questions over his age briefly forced him to resign from ministerial office. Political opponents have also raised doubts about his educational disclosures. None of these episodes, however, has slowed his ascent. What makes his appointment politically potent is the layered irony it carries. The man who built his recent identity around opposition to Nitish Kumar has inherited Bihar only after becoming Nitish’s ally. The challenger has become the successor. In Magadh, where political memory runs deep and symbols matter, that arc gives this transition unusual weight. Bihar has a new Choudhary now, and his muretha vow, once seen as dramatic posturing, has largely ended as prophecy fulfilled.About the AuthorRajeev SinghRajeev Singh is a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India. He covers politics, policies, defence, and conflicts for readers curious to know their implications. He loves digging into legal maxims and political trivia. On off days, when not turning pages or learning русский, he lives in the reverie of “what ifs” and “how abouts.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide ProtestsDelimitation Bill Includes Provision For EC To Conduct Exercise In PoK When Conditions ChangeIMF Raises India’s FY27 Growth Outlook to 6.5% Despite Global Slowdown, Flags Rising RisksIran’s Chokehold On Hormuz: How Prepared Is India To Tackle Naval Mine Threat?Pawan Khera Faces Setback As SC Stays Bail, Cites Jurisdiction Issue In Assam CM Passport Row CaseTharoor Pushes EU-Inspired Model Amid Rising Concerns Over Delimitation123PhotostoriesRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know aboutCommon snakes found in Japan: Species, habitats, and which ones are dangerous5 dog breeds that look like lions (and why everyone’s obsessed with them)Mumbai suburban rail expansion: Kurla–Parel 5th & 6th line project back on track after land push; what we knowKeep these flowers in your bedroom to strengthen your relationship (by Number)Ditch the usual shada-laal:The saree guide you didn’t know you needed this Poila Boishakh123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold RateBIE AP inter Result ReleasedMP Board Result Official WebsiteCBSE Class 10 ResultMP Board Class 10th result 2026Zoji La TunnelNFL Trade RumorsIPL Points TableUS VP pick 2020Lonna Drewes

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