VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html When Shah Rukh Khan’s accidental fall made Rahul and Anjali’s first meeting in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ even more memorable In 2023, scientists turned part of San Diego’s ocean bright pink to see how river water reaches the sea From 2025 washout to historic sweep: How Prashant Kishor put Jan Suraaj on Bihar’s electoral map ‘Killed her, took bank card, put body in a suitcase’: Chilling details of the murder of aid worker who helped refugees in Greece, Afghan building cleaner arrested NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor has finally found a seat for his “school bag” in Bihar. The election strategist-turned-politician has flipped the Bankipur assembly seat, an unassailable bastion of the BJP for the last 30 years. Before today’s shock defeat, the BJP had registered 8 consecutive victories in Bankipur since 1995, when it won the seat for the first time.By-election in Bankipur was necessitated after Nitin Nabin resigned as BJP MLA from the seat in April after his election to Rajya Sabha. This followed Nitin Nabin’s elevation as BJP national president in January this year.To gauge the enormity of Prashant Kishor’s victory, look at these facts:BJP has held Bankipur assembly seat from 1995 (Till 2005, the seat was known as Patna West)BJP chief Nitin Nabin won from the Bankipur assembly seat four times in a row Nitin Nabin won from Bankipur for first time in 2010 with a margin of 56%From 1995 to 2010, the seat (known as Patna West) was represented by Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha (Nitin Nabin’s father)Father-son duo has won the seat 8 consecutive times For PK, as Prashant Kishor is popularly known, contesting the Bankipur byelection was a huge political gamble. PK, who made a high-pitched entry into Bihar politics with a padyatra spanning months ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, cut a sorry figure when his Jan Suraj Party failed to win even one seat less than a year ago. Such dismal was his first electoral show that JSP lost deposit in 236 of the 238 seats it contested. Prashant Kishor did not contest the election himself and instead led a high-voltage campaign for his party across the state.Little wonder his decision to contest the Bankipur bypoll was fraught with the danger of becoming a make-or-break political move. But the gamble has paid off and Prashant Kishor with his debut win has propelled into the centrestage of Bihar politics.‘Bankipur’s message to BJP central leadership’Prashant Kishor polled over 64,151 votes and won the key electoral battle by a margin of 19,324 votes over BJP’s Neeraj Kumar. Prashant Kishor’s resounding success, nine months after his party’s humiliating defeat, marks a remarkable turnaround.And making the most of his victory, Prashant Kishor immediately trained his guns at Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary.”This is the victory of the people of Bankipur. As we stated during the election campaign, this was not just an election to choose an MLA. It was an attempt by the people of Bihar to send a message to the BJP’s central leadership that they should appoint a good person as the chief minister of Bihar. They do not want a person with a criminal background or questionable conduct, character, or reputation to lead Bihar. They want a good chief minister who can improve education, create employment opportunities for the youth, and ensure that the children of Bihar do not have to migrate elsewhere for work,” Kishor told reporters as his supporters celebrated his maiden electoral victory.Prashant Kishor’s use of his victory to target Samrat Choudhary did not come as a surprise. Ksihor been unrelenting in his attacks against the BJP leader ever since the election strategist became a full-time politician. He has targeted Samrat Choudhary over the chief minister’s educational qualification and his alleged criminal past.Kishor’s development pitch or disappointment against BJP?The Jan Suraaj chief also called upon the BJP’s central leadership to focus on governance ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections, stating, “Before the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi, the BJP, and Amit Shah should focus on improving Bihar, creating jobs for its youth, and stopping migration. That is our only objective. We do not want to become MLAs merely to award contracts. Our sole objective is the development of Bihar.”These are the very themes on which Prashant Kishor fought the 2025 assembly elections and lost. Clearly, while he keeps focus on these issues, his victory in bankipur may less be about endorsement of his development focus and more about people’s disappointment with the BJP. The result is also perhaps a fallout of the students’ agitation against NEET-UG paper leak, which saw huge protests in Bihar. In Siwan, a police constable was suspended after a video purportedly showing him using an AK-47 rifle during a student protest on July 25 went viral on social media.Leader of opposition in Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, slammed Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for the incident. He posted a video of the purported incident on X and, along with it, said, “During the protest in Siwan, police resorted to direct firing with an AK-47 on students. When a criminal becomes chief minister, then police fire bullets at innocent students.”‘Verdict by Bihar’s youth against BJP’CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya in his message to Prashant Kishor described his victory as a significant verdict by Bihar’s youth against the BJP-led state government.In a post on X, Bhattacharya termed Kishor’s victory a “well-earned debut victory” and said the bypoll result reflected public anger against the ruling dispensation.”Congratulations to Prashant Kishor on his well-earned debut victory in Bankipur bypoll. Kudos to the youth of Bihar for delivering such a telling blow to the supremely arrogant, incompetent and tyrannical BJP government of Bihar,” he said.Shock verdict for BJPThe BJP was quick to accept the verdict of the people. State BJP president Sanjay Saraogi said in a statement, “We bow before the will of the people. We shall draw lessons from the debacle, unlike our opponents who tend to blame every electoral loss of theirs on EVMs and the Election Commission”.But for the BJP, this defeat comes as an embarrassment for both its national president Nitin Nabin and the party’s first chief minister in the state Samrat Choudhary. Bankipur seat was literally a personal fiefdom of Nitin Nabin’s family which represented the constituency for 30 long years. A defeat in the backyard will surely embarrass the BJP chief.For Samrat Choudhary, this was the first electoral test of his government which was formed after the BJP took over the reins of the state from JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar. It was Nitish Kumar who had led the NDA to an emphatic triumph in the 2025 assembly elections. And the BJP would have hoped that Samrat Choudhary would have given it a winning start. But that was not to be.Lalu’s RJD pushed to fringesThe Bankipur bypoll result also has a worrying message for the main opposition party RJD. Tejashwi Yadav’s party seems to have learnt no lessons from the 2025 electoral drubbing. The party which has been reduced to 25 seats in the assembly did little to show intent on the ground. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIts candidate Rekha Kumari polled just 14,273 votes. This was over 32,000 votes less than the figure of 46,363, which she had polled in the 2025 assembly elections as the runnerup in the seat. Ironically, for the greater part of the campaign, RJD’s star campaigner Tejashwi Yadav was missing in action.Time to pause, reviewIt may not be prudent to overexaggerate the outcome of one bypoll. The result of one seat, even though high-profile, may not be indicative of any larger trend. But for the BJP and the RJD to brush aside the defeat as a one-off setback would be doing harm to their cause. The BJP should remember that it rules Bihar but is still dependent on its allies for survival. The RJD, meanwhile, remains the main opposition party but seems to have lost the plot to factionalism and family feuds after its dismal 2025 show. Both need to pause and review what went wrong in Bankipur. MLA Prashant Kishor, on the other hand, will perhaps be now preparing for another bout with his political bete noir Samrat Choudhary – this time on the floor of Bihar assembly.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? 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The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Sunny Deol remembers Dharmendra saying, ‘Pakistan meri mausi hai, pura mulk ek hi tha’ at Batwara 1947 event, avoids getting into political debate: ‘Hum actors hain’ Australia has built bridges just for crabs so millions of red crabs can safely migrate across Christmas Island every year Meet the king snake: The non-venomous reptile that hunts, kills, and eats venomous snakes without becoming their next victim and where can travellers find them Visa extension filed? Immigration attorney says ICE can still arrest you; Oakland’s Chantal Morales Rojas also did her paperwork before deadline “Ethanol policy is flawed”: Arvind Kejriwal on planned march to PM’s residence Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that he will march to the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday to personally hand over a petition signed by over 2.33 lakh people against what he termed a “flawed” ethanol policy.Addressing the media, Kejriwal said, “A few days ago, we launched an online petition addressed to the Prime Minister, and approximately 2,33,238 people signed it within just a short period. Tomorrow at 12:00 PM, I will set out from my office with a group of a hundred people to head towards the Prime Minister’s residence. We want to hand over this petition to him personally and discuss why the ethanol policy is flawed.” Watch India’s E20 Fuel Debate Explained: Facts, Myths & The Road to E100Earlier on Saturday, addressing a townhall programme outside the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Kejriwal said, “Earlier, I asked you to sign a petition addressed to the Prime Minister. More than 2,00,000 people have signed it online, and I have taken printouts of those signatures. On Tuesday, the 4th, at 12:00 PM, I will personally go to the Prime Minister’s residence to hand over the petition.”Kejriwal further said that there is no need for a larger turnout, but those who are not scared of police action would be taken.”There is no need for everyone to come along. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of police batons. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of going to jail. Those who wish to join should write to me, tag me and send me a message. We will take 100 people with us, march toward the Prime Minister’s residence, and then see what happens,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe march would be the latest escalation in AAP’s campaign against the Centre’s E20 fuel policy. During the programme, Kejriwal put forward three demands on the issue to the Centre: there should be an option for E20 and pure petrol at petrol pumps, E20 should be cheaper than pure petrol, and the price of petrol should be less than 84 rupees/litre.He also urged people to halt their purchase of vehicles until vehicles compatible with E100 are manufactured in the country. I appeal to the people of my country to stop buying petrol and diesel vehicles. Until E100 vehicles start being manufactured in the country, do not buy a vehicle. This government will ruin you,” he said on X.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources123PhotostoriesWhy eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never noticeOptical illusion brain teaser: Only the top 1% of people can spot the second ‘Hidden tiger’123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Meerut and Ghaziabad schools, colleges closed till August 12 due to Kanwar Yatra Salman Khan reacts to Sohail Khan taking responsibility for divorce with Seema Sajdeh: ‘My dear noble brother took all the blame, I know how much he tried’ Florida’s first flesh-eating bacteria death of 2026 raises concerns during beach season as warm waters fuel infections California approved a State Farm insurance settlement after proposed increases reached 52%; the deal is estimated to save consumers about $530 million US, Israel behind Cueta crisis? The geopolitics of illegal migration from Morocco to Spain Representative image NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that it wants to place on record the process and safeguards adopted right from the printing of the NEET question paper to its distribution among students.Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta informed a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe that the government would explain the methodology and place it on record through an affidavit. Mehta sought time for hearing on Thursday or Friday.The bench replied that it would also like to know the process and posted a batch of pleas seeking additional safeguards for NEET question papers for hearing on Thursday.During an earlier hearing on June 24 too, the Supreme Court had said it would “closely monitor” the steps taken to curb future NEET examination paper leaks.The top court was then hearing a batch of petitions, including one filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA). It told Mehta that the government should indicate the steps taken towards ensuring transparency, implementing the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee and following the IIT model.”Students’ futures can’t be jeopardised. We are going beyond the Radhakrishnan Committee. I assure you that the government is walking 10 extra miles. I can assure you everything is being supervised at the highest level,” the ASG had submitted at the time.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesOn May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG examination held on May 3 amid allegations of a paper leak. The retest was conducted on June 21.The paper leak allegations are being investigated by the CBI.After allegations of NEET-UG question paper leaks in 2024, the Supreme Court had refused to cancel the medical entrance test but issued various directions aimed at preventing paper leaks and laid down criteria for cancelling public examinations.Following the 2024 leak, the ministry of education had constituted a seven-member committee headed by former Isro chief K Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in the examination process, improvement in data security protocols, and the structure and functioning of the NTA.(With PTI inputs)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh US stock market today: Wall Street rallies over 1% on falling oil prices, hopes of deal with Iran WB JECA result 2026 declared at wbjeeb.nic.in: Direct link to download rank card here Ramanand Sagar’s son says Ranbir Kapoor has a lot of baggage after ‘Animal’ as he reacts to the criticism around his casting: ‘Always cast a fresh face for a character like Ram’ “Only children are spoiled and lonely”: What science says about the 4 most common stereotypes related to them | Sawan Tuesday Remedy: Chanting This Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai Can Instantly Dissolve Your Fear Cambridge student Ahmed Abdelsalam, 12, designed a system that harvests energy from movement; the invention made him one of 10 finalists for a $25,000 prize ‘Beaten until they enlisted’: Russia ramps up forced recruitment amid Ukraine losses – report Houston student Aiden Jo, 14, saw bulky packaging as a design problem; his origami-inspired answer reached a national science final Meta apologised for removing PM Modi’s Facebook video, but MPs demanded accountability and action against those responsible instead of just an apology.Chief minister DK Shivakumar inducted 20 ministers, taking the Cabinet to full strength, while urging disappointed Congress MLAs to remain patient after exclusions.Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said the women wrestlers will appeal against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s acquittal, alleging the system worked to protect him.The state approached the apex court, alleging Karnataka has not released its due share of Cauvery water despite adequate reservoir storage.FSSAI initiated action against several liquor manufacturers, including makers of Old Monk and McDowell’s, over alleged misleading labelling and use of non-permitted flavouring practices.Here are top five news stories Meta apologises over PM Modi’s video removal, MPs seek accountabilityMeta apologised before Parliament’s IT panel for mistakenly removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook video, but MPs demanded accountability instead of just an apology. Members also questioned the company over objectionable content, legal compliance and platform moderation. The meeting came after the Centre criticised Meta’s explanation for the temporary removal of Modi’s video on action against paper leaks. Read full story Watch Three Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Karnataka Cabinet expanded to full strength; 20 ministers sworn inChief minister DK Shivakumar inducted 20 ministers, taking the Karnataka Cabinet to its full sanctioned strength of 34. The expansion triggered resignations by two Congress MLAs who were left out. Shivakumar appealed for patience, saying opportunities would come for everyone. The Congress high command also approved appointments to key Assembly and Legislative Council posts. Read full storyVinesh Phogat to appeal Brij Bhushan acquittal, alleges system protected himVinesh Phogat said the women wrestlers would appeal against the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging that the government and state machinery protected him throughout the case. Singh welcomed the verdict, calling it honourable. The Delhi court acquitted Singh and former WFI official Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment case. Read full storyTamil Nadu moves SC over Cauvery water release, seeks larger shareTamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court, alleging Karnataka released less Cauvery water than its entitlement despite sufficient reservoir levels. The state challenged the CWRC allocation and sought directions for timely release. The petition was filed on chief minister Vijay’s instructions amid renewed tensions over water sharing during the monsoon. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRead full storyFSSAI cracks down on liquor brands over misleading labels, flavour claimsFSSAI launched enforcement action against several liquor manufacturers, including makers of Old Monk, McDowell’s and Bagpiper, alleging misleading labelling, age claims and non-permitted flavouring practices. The regulator said some products were wrongly marketed as standard rum or whisky despite being made largely from neutral spirit, and prohibited the sale of specific variants. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.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’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources123PhotostoriesWhy eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never noticeOptical illusion brain teaser: Only the top 1% of people can spot the second ‘Hidden tiger’123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh OTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9) Google executive’s farewell message after 8 years goes viral, one line about the company stands out Glide bombs: How these cheap weapons are giving Russia its battlefield edge back in Ukraine One renter, eight apartments and 175 years of creaking floors: Inside Calista Hill’s unusual new home Prashant Kishor broke the BJP’s three-decade hold on Bankipur and reshaped Bihar’s political landscape. The first electoral verdict after the nationwide Gen Z protests has delivered one of the biggest political surprises in recent years. BJP has lost Bankipur, one of its safest seats in Bihar, to Prashant Kishor, giving Jan Suraaj its first-ever electoral victory.The result carries significance beyond a single assembly bypoll. It is also the first major electoral test for BJP in Bihar under the leadership of CM Samrat Choudhary after he assumed charge of the state government. The outcome suggests that the party failed to retain its grip over a constituency that had remained virtually impregnable for three decades.The fall of a BJP fortressBankipur has been synonymous with BJP’s dominance since 1995. The party won the seat four consecutive times through Navin Sinha before his son, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, retained it for five successive elections.The constituency had long been regarded as one of BJP’s safest urban seats. Nitin Nabin secured more than 50% of the vote in every election he contested, including around 63% in the 2025 Assembly election. Against that backdrop, the bypoll result represents a dramatic political reversal.From electoral debut disaster to historic victoryThe bypoll attracted unusual national attention largely because Prashant Kishor decided to contest personally.Only nine months ago, Jan Suraaj had suffered a crushing setback in the Bihar Assembly elections. The party fielded candidates in 238 of the state’s 243 constituencies but failed to win a single seat, while forfeiting deposits in 236 constituencies. Despite an extensive campaign built around Prashant Kishor’s personal credibility, the party could not convert public attention into votes.The obvious question, therefore, is: what changed in just nine months?A changing political moodPolitical observers believe the 2025 Assembly election was heavily influenced by welfare promises, including direct financial assistance for women and free electricity, helping the NDA secure a decisive victory. Since then, Bihar’s political environment appears to have shifted considerably.The transition from Nitish Kumar to Samrat Choudhary as Chief Minister coincided with a series of developments that reportedly generated dissatisfaction among sections of BJP’s traditional support base. Controversies surrounding the UGC guidelines, the Bharat Tiwari encounter, and widespread anger over repeated paper leak incidents created fresh political fault lines, particularly among students and young voters.Why youth turned towards Prashant KishorEducation has remained at the centre of Prashant Kishor’s political messaging. His repeated emphasis on education reforms appears to have resonated with young voters seeking systemic change.He has consistently questioned the academic credentials of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary while projecting education reform as one of Bihar’s most urgent priorities. His image as an educated professional has helped him emerge as a credible alternative, especially among urban youth.Following the nationwide Gen Z protests, Bihar witnessed some of the strongest student mobilisations over paper leak controversies. While the state has made visible improvements in roads and infrastructure over the past decade, concerns over the quality of education and the continued migration of young people remain widespread.For many first-time and young voters, Prashant Kishor increasingly appeared to represent change.Tejashwi Yadav’s absence created political spaceEqually significant was the growing disappointment among sections of the opposition’s traditional support base.Many voters expected Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav to aggressively raise issues affecting students and other public concerns. According to political observers in Patna, his perceived lack of visibility during debates over the Bharat Tiwari encounter and student protests created a vacuum in opposition politics.Many voters reportedly believed that while one bypoll would not alter the government’s stability, electing Prashant Kishor would strengthen the opposition’s voice inside the Assembly.Core voters turned away from the BJP, RJDThe final extent of vote transfer will become clearer only after the Election Commission releases detailed voting data. However, reporters on the ground believe Prashant Kishor attracted support from both BJP’s and RJD’s traditional voter bases.RJD candidate Rekha Kumari appears to have suffered the sharpest decline. After securing 46,363 votes in the 2025 Assembly election, she is now estimated to have polled fewer than 15,000 votes.There are also indications that sections of BJP’s upper-caste support base were unhappy over issues such as paper leaks, the UGC guidelines and the Bharat Tiwari encounter.BJP’s candidate switch added to the narrativeThe BJP’s last-minute change of candidate also became a major talking point during the campaign. The party’s nominee, Abhishek Kumar Sinha, withdrew his nomination on July 10 citing personal reasons. The withdrawal came just hours after Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary had campaigned for him in Bankipur.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesBJP subsequently fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha, who was widely perceived as a weaker candidate. Prashant Kishor seized on the development, arguing that the BJP was struggling to find a suitable candidate because voters now had a credible alternative.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources123PhotostoriesWhy eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never noticeOptical illusion brain teaser: Only the top 1% of people can spot the second ‘Hidden tiger’123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Government proposes sweeping tax rule changes to attract offshore funds – what it means She started with Rs 10,000 and a rented garage after career rejection, then built Biocon into a global biotech leader ‘The Paradise’ new poster: Nani impresses in ‘Jadal’ look; actor’s long braided tail is unmissable Natural Air Fresheners: DIY: Make natural air fresheners that keep your home smelling fresh all day | Bankipur bypoll: 5 key takeaways from Prashant Kishor’s win over BJP in its Bihar stronghold Son kept mother’s body in freezer for three years, claimed £78,000 pension; jailed in UK | World News Analysis of ADR report Politics often comes wrapped in familiar assumptions. With the BJP, the ruling party at the Centre, now also in power in a majority of states, either alone or in alliance, one might expect a degree of sameness in the profiles of India’s chief ministers. Yet the Association for Democratic Reforms reports show a more varied picture. The country’s CMs come from different social strata, age groups, educational backgrounds and economic profiles, even within their own parties. There is no single formula for political ascent.That is what makes the comparison between ADR’s 2025 and 2026 reports more revealing than either report viewed alone. The 2025 study examined 30 chief ministers, since Manipur was then under President’s Rule. The 2026 report covers 31, after the return of a chief minister in the state. More importantly, the occupants of the chief minister’s office changed in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar and West Bengal.South pulls the wealth mapThe combined assets declared by India’s chief ministers rose from Rs 1,632 crore in the 2025 report to Rs 3,660 crore in 2026. Average assets more than doubled from Rs 54.42 crore to Rs 118.07 crore. The number of billionaire chief ministers rose from two to four.In 2025, N Chandrababu Naidu, with assets of Rs 931.84 crore, and Pema Khandu, with Rs 332.57 crore, were the only billionaire chief ministers. Siddaramaiah was a distant third with Rs 51.94 crore. A year later, Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar is the clear number one with Rs 1,413.8 crore, while cine star and Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay declared assets of Rs 648.86 crore. Together, these four account for approximately Rs 3,327 crore, or 90.9% of the assets declared by all 31 chief ministers. The remaining 27 account for only around Rs 333 crore between them.Analysing the assets held by CMsA geographical cut makes the imbalance sharper. Using a broad four-zone grouping, not an ADR classification, the South has only six of the 31 CMs but accounts for roughly Rs 3,059 crore, or about 83.6% of all declared CM assets in 2026. That is because three of the four billionaire CMs, Shivakumar, Naidu and Vijay, are from southern states. So the South, in a way, lives up to the larger-than-life CM personalities. Naidu is a veteran politician who has survived many ebbs to rise again and regain his lost glory. D K Shivakumar finally got rewarded after a power tussle with Siddaramaiah, and Vijay was the new kid on the block who broke through the DMK-AIADMK binary, while also ticking the box of another cine star to become CM of Tamil Nadu. So the profiles of these billionaire CMs could not be more different.East and the Northeast together have the largest number of CMs in this grouping, 12, but account for about Rs 495 crore, helped substantially by Khandu’s declaration. North and Central India together have 10 CMs but only around Rs 75 crore in declared assets, while the West has three CMs and around Rs 31 crore.Same party, different worldsThe party-wise picture is just as uneven. The BJP has 17 chief ministers in the 2026 list, but they are far from a single economic bloc. Its richest CM is Pema Khandu, with Rs 332.57 crore in declared assets. Its poorest is West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, with about Rs 85.88 lakh. That is a nearly 387-fold gap within the same party.The Congress spread is smaller in headcount but sharper in scale. Of its four CMs, Shivakumar alone accounts for Rs 1,413.8 crore. At the other end is Kerala CM V D Satheesan, with Rs 6.66 crore. Revanth Reddy, at Rs 30.05 crore, and Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh, at Rs 7.82 crore, sit far below Shivakumar’s level. In effect, Congress’s CM asset profile is overwhelmingly shaped by one leader.This is why the average can mislead. A calculation based on individual entries puts the 2026 median at only around Rs 8.23 crore, barely higher than the 2025 median of about Rs 8.02 crore.Total declared liabilities rose from roughly Rs 242 crore in 2025 to nearly Rs 505 crore in 2026, though the number of CMs declaring liabilities of Rs 1 crore or more remained unchanged at 11. Khandu led the 2025 liability table with Rs 180.28 crore. In 2026, Shivakumar moved to the top with Rs 265.07 crore, followed by Khandu and Himanta Biswa Sarma.Younger leaders, uneven party trendThe leadership profile also became younger. In 2025, 12 of the 30 chief ministers were in the 51-60 group. By 2026, that number had risen to 17. The number aged 61 or above fell from 10 to six. The 41-50 category remained unchanged at eight.India now has younger CMsThe average reported age declined from 58.8 to 56.7, though the median remained 56. The shift reflects the exit of several older CMs, including Siddaramaiah, Pinarayi Vijayan, Nitish Kumar, M K Stalin and Mamata Banerjee. The ages are those recorded when election affidavits were filed, not necessarily current ages. So the actual decline is much sharper because the 2025 calculation accounted for many outgoing CMs’ 2021 affidavits.Here again, parties differ internally. Congress’s four CMs are tightly bunched. Revanth Reddy is 56, Sukhvinder Singh 58, Shivakumar 60 and Satheesan 61. The BJP’s spread is wider. It has Pema Khandu at 44 and Manik Saha at 70, with several CMs clustered in their 50s. In other words, the Congress CM cohort is smaller and more middle-aged, while the BJP’s larger pool stretches from younger leadership to older veterans.There was a reversal on gender. The 2025 report listed two women among 30 chief ministers. The 2026 report lists only one among 31. Mamata Banerjee’s exit from the CM roster left Delhi’s Rekha Gupta as the sole woman in the group.Degrees stay broadly stableMany of the politicians are products of student politics. They may not have worked professionally, but they still believed in the inherent importance of formal education. In 2025, 25 of the 30 CMs were graduates, professional graduates, postgraduates or doctorate holders. In 2026, the number remained 25, despite the larger group. The proportion with graduate-level qualification or higher slipped slightly, from about 83% to 81%.Within parties, the BJP shows the widest educational spread. Its CM list includes doctorate holders such as Mohan Yadav, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Samrat Choudhary, but also leaders listed as Class 10 pass, diploma holders, graduates, professional graduates and postgraduates. Congress’s four CMs are more compact educationally: Shivakumar and Sukhvinder Singh are postgraduates, Revanth Reddy is a graduate and Satheesan is a graduate professional.Cases rise, but cluster in five namesThe criminal-record figures worsened modestly. In 2025, 12 of 30 chief ministers, or 40%, had declared criminal cases; 10 had cases classified by ADR as serious. By 2026, 14 of 31, or 45%, had declared criminal cases; 11 had serious cases.The combined number of declared cases rose from 187 to 195. The burden remained concentrated. Revanth Reddy continued to head the list with 89 cases, followed by Suvendu Adhikari with 29, Shivakumar and Naidu with 19 each, and Kerala’s V D Satheesan with 18. Five chief ministers accounted for 174 of the 195 cases, or 89.2%.Criminal cases against CMsThree of Congress’s four CMs are among the top five by declared cases: Revanth Reddy, Shivakumar and Satheesan. Among BJP CMs, Adhikari carries the highest declared case load, while several BJP chief ministers have no declared criminal cases. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGeography shows a similar concentration, though for different reasons. The six southern CMs together account for 147 declared cases, driven mainly by Revanth Reddy, Shivakumar, Naidu and Satheesan. East and the Northeast account for 38 cases, led by Adhikari. North and Central India account for six, while the West accounts for four.It is perhaps not a coincidence that many of the CMs with high case loads were opposition leaders for a significant time. Thus, criminal cases need to be treated with caution. A low case count may not strictly be a virtue; it may just be a case of friendly police administration. Disclosures aren’t the only way to understand the nature of a politician. But they are an important starting point, particularly when compared over the years, to understand how the seat of power remains the same, but the nature of those who occupy it changes, perhaps as an inevitable reflection of the realities of the times.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorArghya Prasun RoychowdhuryInterested in politics, policy, data and cricket.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources123PhotostoriesWhy eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? 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The interaction will be held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre as part of the 15th anniversary programme of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN), a youth-led organisation.The event comes against the backdrop of growing youth assertion in the country, with students increasingly using social media and street protests to demand answers from governments and institutions. The recent agitation over irregularities in NEET-UG and other examinations has also brought questions of transparency, accountability and the role of young people in public debate to the centre stage.Bhagwat did not refer to any particular agitation while speaking recently about changing relations between generations. He had said that, unlike in the past, children today expect reasons, examples and explanations and must be engaged through regular conversation.The Mumbai interaction will, therefore, be watched for the issues raised by students and whether the session allows them to directly question the RSS chief on education, leadership, nation-building and social change.IIMUN founder Rishabh Shah said the gathering was aimed at creating a dialogue between senior leaders and young people.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“Leadership is not only about guiding the next generation, but also listening to it. At this critical juncture in India’s journey, we need this dialogue more than ever before,” Shah said.Bhagwat’s address will mark the opening of the organisation’s annual championship conference, where students will debate national and international issues. This year’s theme is “The Role of Youth in Uniting the World, the Indian Way”.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources‘Jihad-Producing Factories’: Taslima Nasreen Speaks On Mosques, Madrasas In Bangladesh; Demands UCC123PhotostoriesWant a happy married life after becoming parents? 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The hidden reason most guests never noticeOptical illusion brain teaser: Only the top 1% of people can spot the second ‘Hidden tiger’5 Joseon-era beauty ingredients that kept Korean skin and hair glowing long before modern skincareSamay Raina couldn’t stop eyeing Karan Aujla’s Rs 4 crore watch on ‘India’s Got Latent’, and neither can we123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Vikrant Massey’s affectionate ‘chachu’ moment with niece melts hearts at ‘Musafir Cafe’ success party – Watch Bible Verse of the Day, 04 August, 2026: Read This When Life Feels Uncertain BJP wins Manjalpur bypoll, but sharp fall in margin rings alarm bells Quote of the day by Arnold Schwarzenegger: “What is the point of being on this Earth if you…” – a timeless lesson on being unapologetically yourself Meta apologises before Parliament panel over removal of PM Modi’s Facebook video NEW DELHI: Meta on Monday apologised before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology over the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook video, saying it was taken down due to an error. However, several committee members said the issue went beyond an apology and demanded accountability for the incident.According to ANI sources, members of the parliamentary panel took a tough stance during the meeting, questioning Meta officials over the removal of the Prime Minister’s video from Facebook.ANI sources said, “The Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT took a tough stance over the removal of PM Modi’s video from Facebook. During the committee meeting, several members posed tough questions to Meta officials. Meta officials apologized, stating that the PM’s video was removed due to an error. Several committee members said the issue was not about an apology, but about fixing accountability. Committee members also demanded legal action against the Meta official responsible for removing the video. Members further sought details from Meta on what action the company has taken regarding controversial and objectionable content present on its platforms. Meeting is still underway.”The meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, was convened to discuss the regulation of social and digital media platforms. Representatives from Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGoogle, Meta, YouTube, X, Snapchat, the Union home ministry and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) appeared before the panel.The meeting came days after the Centre summoned Meta’s global team over the temporary restriction of Prime Minister Modi’s Facebook post in which he addressed India’s youth and promised stringent action against paper leaks.Meta had earlier attributed the removal to a technical error and restored the content, but the MeitY described the company’s explanation as “inadequate”. Government sources had said the issue was not merely technical but also related to “national security and public order”.Separately, the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police has registered cases against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and certain Facebook and Instagram accounts over allegedly morphed and AI-generated posts targeting the Prime Minister. Government sources have also raised broader concerns about the impact of social media platforms on public order and their compliance with Indian laws.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world. His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources‘Jihad-Producing Factories’: Taslima Nasreen Speaks On Mosques, Madrasas In Bangladesh; Demands UCC123PhotostoriesOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? 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