PATNA, Nov 14: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has taken an early lead in the Bihar Assembly elections, currently leading in 166 out of 243 seats, significantly above the majority mark of 122, as reported by the Election Commission.

The opposition INDIA bloc trails far behind, showing leads in only 59 seats. Electoral officials caution that these numbers may change as multiple rounds of counting are still pending.

Among the parties within the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads in 72 seats, followed closely by Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) with 71 seats, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ramsahay Vaishnav) with 18, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM(S)) with four, and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) in one seat.

In contrast, the INDIA bloc consists of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which leads in 43 seats, while the Indian National Congress shows a presence in eight seats. Other parties, including CPI(ML)-Liberation and the CPI along with CPI(M), lead in six and two seats, respectively.

The minor parties, such as the Jan Suraaj Party led by Prashant Kishor and Vikas Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahani, face a stark reality as they trail in all constituencies they contested.

Highlighted candidates include the RJD’s Khesari Lal Yadav, who trails in Chhapra, while the BJP’s Maithili Thakur leads in Alinagar. RJD’s Osama Shahab holds a lead in Ragunathpur, and JD(U) minister Leshi Singh is ahead in Dhamdaha.

INDIA bloc’s Chief Ministerial face, Tejashwi Yadav, is holding a lead in Raghopur. Notably, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary in Tarapur and Vijay Kumar Sinha in Lakhisarai are also leading in their respective constituencies.

In an unexpected turn, Tej Pratap Yadav from the RJD finds himself in fourth place in Mahua, where Sanjay Kumar Singh from the LJP(RV) leads. As the counting progresses, the dynamics of the race may shift, keeping political analysts and party supporters on edge.

The Union Cabinet condemned the November 10 car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, categorizing it as a “heinous terrorist incident” and pledging to bring the perpetrators and their collaborators to justice. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to national security.

The Cabinet expressed profound grief over the loss of innocent lives during the attack. In remembrance of the victims, members observed two minutes of silence. Union Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, remarked on the unfortunate event, stating, “The country has witnessed a heinous terrorist incident perpetrated by anti-national forces through a car explosion near Red Fort on November 10.”

Extending heartfelt condolences to the families mourning their loved ones, the Cabinet also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack. It recognized the swift actions of medical teams and emergency responders who provided immediate assistance amidst chaos.

Labeling the explosion a “dastardly and cowardly act,” the government reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance towards terrorism in all forms. This position resonates deeply as India stands united against acts threatening its sovereignty and safety.

The Cabinet also acknowledged the supportive messages of solidarity received from governments around the world, showcasing international unity against terrorism. Security agencies and citizens deserve commendation for their timely and coordinated response, which reinforces the collective resolve to combat terror.

The government stated, “We are monitoring the situation at the highest levels,” indicating a focused approach to security amidst the aftermath of this attack. Investigators are mandated to pursue the case with “utmost urgency and professionalism,” signaling strict measures against such acts of violence.

In closing, the resolution reiterated the government’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding citizens’ lives and maintaining national security. “We will not rest until justice is served,” it concluded, reiterating the assurance to uphold the safety and well-being of all Indians.

The DNA test of samples collected from the Red Fort blast site has confirmed that Dr Umar Nabi was driving the car that exploded there early this week, police sources said Thursday.

The DNA samples of Umar’s mother were collected on Tuesday and sent here for examination, the sources said, adding that they were analysed along with the remains gathered from the blast site.

“The DNA results confirm that it was indeed Umar who was driving the fateful vehicle,” said a source.

Umar was a key member of a “white collar” terror module busted earlier this week. He hails from Koil village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama.

Hours after police busted the terror module with links to proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, and arrested eight people including three doctors, the high-intensity blast ripped through a slow-moving car near Delhi”s Red Fort area on Monday evening.

Around 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate and sulphur were seized after police busted the terror module, which spanned across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted searches at 10 locations across five states in an Al Qaida Gujarat terror conspiracy case allegedly involving illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, officials said on Thursday.

NIA teams conducted searches at premises on Wednesday linked with various suspects and their associates in West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Haryana and Gujarat, an agency spokesperson said in a statement.

The official said several digital devices and documents were seized that have been sent for forensic analysis.

The case was registered in 2023 and centres around four Bangladeshi nationals — Mohd. Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari, Azarul Islam, and Abdul Latif — had illegally infiltrated into India from Bangladesh using forged Indian identity documents, the NIA alleged.

“They were found to be connected with the proscribed Al-Qaida terrorist organisation. The men were involved in collection and transfer of funds to Al Qaida operatives in Bangladesh, and were also found to be actively motivating Muslim youth,” the statement said.

The NIA had filed a charge sheet on November 10, 2023 in a Ahmedabad Special Court. (Agencies)