Vijay is chief of bureau, Patna. He has spent 21 years in journalism and covers political beats and public affairs.
Articles by Vijay Swaroop
After BJP, GA rallies, Owaisi to hold padyatra in Purnia, Kishanganj
In Purnia, BJP leader and union home minister Amit Shah had addressed a rally in September last year while the mahagathbandhan, as the ruling alliance in Bihar is called, held a rally in February this year.
Published on Mar 11, 2023 10:31 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
JD-U dissolves Nagaland unit after MLA, state unit chief back Neiphiu Rio govt
Nagaland JD-U president Senchumo Lotha and the party’s lone MLA Zwenga Seb met the chief minister Neiphiu Rio on March 8 and handed over letter of support to the NDPP-BJP coalition government.
Published on Mar 09, 2023 09:16 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
JD-U dissolves Nagaland unit after MLA, state unit chief back Neiphiu Rio govt
Nagaland JD-U president Senchumo Lotha and his party’s lone MLA Zwenga Seb pledged support to Neiphiu Rio who took over as chief minister for the fifth time on Tuesday
Updated on Mar 09, 2023 04:10 PM IST
Chirag’s party makes stunning debut in Nagaland, wins two seats, 8.65% of votes
In sharp contrast, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which has had a rather successful electoral history in Nagaland, won only one of the seven seats it fought there.
Published on Mar 02, 2023 11:13 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
RJD red-faced as Sudhakar attacks Nitish again, Tejashwi talks of action
On Sunday evening, Sudhakar Singh had said he would welcome President’s rule in the country rather than have Nitish Kumar as the Prime Minister.
Published on Feb 27, 2023 10:34 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop and Prasun K Mishra, Patna/bhabhua
As RJD legislator Sudhakar Singh attacks Nitish again, Tejashwi talks of action
RJD legislator Sudhakar Singh on Monday told reporters in Patna that Nitish Kumar has no vision and had failed on all fronts
Published on Feb 27, 2023 10:01 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop and Prasun K Mishra
HM Shah holds core committee meeting, asks leaders to reach out to all sections
Shah, who signalled out CM Kumar for his attacks during the two rallies on Saturday, also asked the leaders to take to people “his frequent alliance hopping and opportunist” attitude and remind people of the “Jungle Raj” under the Nitish-led government
Updated on Feb 26, 2023 05:17 PM IST
BJP doors permanently shut for Nitish: Shah in Bihar
Addressing a rally at Lauriya in West Champaran district of Bihar, Shah said Nitish Kumar prime ministerial dream has kept haunting him “every three years”.
Published on Feb 25, 2023 09:33 PM IST
Sandeep Bhaskar and Vijay Swaroop, Lauriya/patna
Those demanding ‘Hindu Rashtra’ want to destroy nation: Nitish Kumar
Adityanath had on Wednesday described Hindu identity as the cultural citizenship of every Indian and termed India as a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. He said India is and has always been a Hindu Rashtra. CM Adityanath said that every citizen living in India is a Hindu irrespective of their religion, caste, and region
Updated on Feb 17, 2023 03:29 PM IST
Nitish expresses displeasure over JD(U) leader’s demand for Muslim quota in army
Gulam Rasool Balyawi sparked a controversy when he sought the reservation if the Union government is afraid of tackling terrorists from Pakistan
Published on Feb 15, 2023 11:36 AM IST
Will die, but won’t tie up with BJP again: Nitish
Kumar also predicted a rout for BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and laughed off BJP’s comment that “Nitish Kumar has become a liability”.
Published on Jan 30, 2023 09:48 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
‘Will die but never go with BJP’: Nitish Kumar’s jibe at former ally
On Sunday, BJP national general secretary and Bihar in-charge Vinod Tawde said that BJP national president JP Nadda and union home minister Amit Shah have categorically maintained that the party will not ally with the JD (U) and its leader Kumar under any circumstances
Updated on Jan 30, 2023 03:27 PM IST
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar asks 'close aide' Upendra Kushwaha to quit JD(U). Why?
Speaking on the sidelines of a function in Patna, chief minister Kumar said, “Only those who keep speaking... go to the BJP. The sooner someone wants to go, the more he keeps saying.”
Updated on Jan 27, 2023 09:10 AM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
He is free to go anywhere: Nitish on Kushwaha
PATNA: The internal crisis in the Janata Dal (United) deepened further as chief minister Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal (United) leader and close aid Upendra Kushwaha took potshots at each other on Wednesday over the latter’s allegations that many within the party are in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and that the party has become weak
Published on Jan 25, 2023 10:42 PM IST
Conspiracy being hatched to weaken Nitish Kumar: Kushwaha
Kushwaha, who was snubbed when the JD(U) formed an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) after severing ties with the BJP to form a new government in Bihar last year, said he was being sidelined
Published on Jan 24, 2023 03:12 PM IST
BJP leaders meet Upendra Kushwaha, Bihar political circles abuzz
Three BJP leaders from the state met Janata Dal (United) parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha in New Delhi, sparking speculations about his possible switch to the saffron party.
Updated on Jan 22, 2023 04:37 AM IST
Nitish laughs off Kushwaha’s BJP moves
A picture of Bihar BJP leaders — spokespersons Prem Ranjan Patel and Sanjay Tiger, along with and Yogendra Paswan — calling on Kushwaha at AIIMS-Delhi on Friday has surfaced on social media.
Published on Jan 21, 2023 09:21 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
Shah to visit Patna next month to attend farmers’ convention
This will mark Shah’s third visit to the state, ever since chief minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) parted ways from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in August 2022.
Published on Jan 21, 2023 06:12 PM IST
Nitish Kumar downplays KCR rally, calls it a party meeting
Amid speculations that the Bihar CM was not invited to the rally hosted by K Chandrashekar Rao at Khammam in Telangana on Wednesday, Nitish Kumar said he was busy with some engagements in the state and did not know about KCR’s rally
Published on Jan 20, 2023 12:37 AM IST
Unfazed by defections, JD-U to fight Nagaland polls
Afaque Ahmad Khan, JD(U)’s national general secretary and in-charge of the northeast, told HT on Thursday that a decision on number of seats to be contested would be taken after a meeting of the state parliamentary board.
Published on Jan 19, 2023 09:43 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
Nitish Kumar downplays KCR rally, says he will work for opposition unity
Kumar is currently undertaking Samadhan Yatra to different districts to oversee works completed and take stock of pending ones
Published on Jan 19, 2023 05:02 PM IST
Respect all religions, says Nitish Kumar amid Ramcharitmanas row
State education minister Chandrashekhar’s remarks that epic Ramcharitmanas promoted social discrimination and spread hatred in society provoked outrage
Published on Jan 17, 2023 01:17 PM IST
JD-U slams RJD minister’s comments on Ramcharitmanas
Education minister Chandrashekhar, a three-time MLA from Madhepura, while addressing a university convocation on Wednesday, had said, “Religious texts like Ramacharitmanas spread hatred just as ‘Manusmriti’ and Golwalkar’s ‘Bunch of Thoughts’ created social divide in different eras.” He then went on to cite a couplet from the epic to prove his point.
Published on Jan 13, 2023 10:05 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
Ramcharitmanas row: JD(U) condemns Bihar minister Chandrashekhar’s remarks
Bihar’s education minister has been facing fire for his controversial statement on Wednesday on epic “Ramcharitmanas” during a speech at a university convocation
Published on Jan 13, 2023 04:28 PM IST
Bihar: Pasmanda Muslims cautious as parties firm up plans to woo them in 2024 LS polls
Aware of their importance, All-India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz (AIPMM) has warned more than 50 sub-castes of Muslims to beware of political parties, including BJP, for their sudden love.
Published on Jan 09, 2023 10:01 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
Jungle raj is back in Bihar: Nadda
Addressing a rally at Paru in Muzaffarpur district, which falls under Vaishali parliamentary constituency, Nadda accused CM Nitish Kumar of betraying people’s mandate
Updated on Jan 03, 2023 10:00 PM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
‘No problem’ with Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate for 2024: Nitish Kumar
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Patna, the chief minister reiterated that he was “not a claimant” for the top post though he reaffirmed his commitment to unite all parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Updated on Dec 31, 2022 11:18 PM IST
BJP’s Bihar vice-president Rajiv Ranjan quits
In a letter to BJP state chief Sanjay Jaiswal, Ranjan regretted the BJP in Bihar has completely deviated from Modi’s policies and ideals
Updated on Dec 30, 2022 02:36 PM IST
On political front, a year of tectonic shift in Bihar
Not only the people of the state but political leaders were left stunned when the state’s longest-serving chief minister Nitish Kumar cleverly sidelined the BJP, to form the Mahaghatbandhan and in the process became the chief minister of the new alliance for the record eighth time in 22 years.
Published on Dec 29, 2022 10:34 PM IST
Tejashwi Yadav to take part in PM Modi’s meet in place of Nitish
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has deputed his deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting on conservation of the Ganga in Kolkata on December 30.
Updated on Dec 29, 2022 03:33 AM IST
Vijay Swaroop, Patna
