Mohammad Ali is an award-winning journalist who divides his time between New York and London. He tweets @hindureporter
With just four days left for the first phase of the Bihar elections, political activity in the state has reached its peak. From the INDIA bloc and the NDA to the Mahagathbandhan are making big promises on jobs, industries, and curbing migration. But on the ground, voters remain divided and unsure about who to trust this time.
In this Outlook interview, Mukesh Sahani, founder of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and former Bihar minister, talks about Bihar’s backward and fisherman communities. He criticises the focus on “five kilos of rice” as development, highlighting gaps in education, healthcare, and employment. Sahani explains why he formed VIP in 2018 after advocating for Nishad community rights and SC reservation in Bihar, following examples from Bengal and Delhi. He also discusses the impact of BJP and RSS policies on backward and Dalit groups and calls for politics to focus on real issues like social justice, equality, and development.
In this Outlook video report, JD(U)’s muscleman, former MLA Anant Singh is accused of killing Jan Suraaj worker Dularchand Yadav in a violent clash in Basawan Chak. The incident has reignited fears of Jungle Raj and raised tough questions about Nitish Kumar’s governance. As Bihar heads into the 2025 elections, the killing once again blurs the line between Nitish Raj and the lawlessness it once vowed to end.
JD(U)’s muscleman Anant Singh has been booked for the killing of Jan Suraaj worker Dularchand Yadav, rekindling old fears of Jungle Raj. Biharis are questioning whether CM Nitish Kumar’s promise of good governance was ever more than a carefully curated image.
Implementation of Targeted Welfare Schemes Has Kept Anti-Incumbency in Check.
In Samastipur, PM Modi officially endorsed Nitish Kumar as Bihar CM and launched the NDA’s 2025 election campaign with the slogan “Nayi Raftaar se chalega Bihar, jab phir aayegi NDA Sarkar.” Massive crowds, towering cutouts, and enthusiastic women supporters reflected strong backing for the Modi-Nitish alliance. Watch the full video for reactions from people on the ground.
Mavericks are generally not taken seriously by realpolitik strategists, yet they symbolize the restless energy of Indian democracy. In many ways, they remind us that Bihar politics is never just about governance, it is also a theatre which thrives on spectacle.
A world of silence, cruelty, and despair — Krasznahorkai’s dystopia is no longer fiction, but our everyday reality.
The shift in Kamala Harris’ immigration policies reflects the national mood against illegal immigrants
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