Aurangabad: Two arrested for poaching blackbuck

After the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) recorded its most impressive performance in Maharashtra's municipal corporation elections, AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan said that this was the "result of collective teamwork".

"This cowardly act has been done by those who can clearly see their defeat. The people of this ward and Aurangabad will respond by pressing the 'Kite' symbol. We have asked the administration to unmask those who are behind this," Owaisi told reporters.

The highest voter turnout of 34.74 per cent was recorded in Kishanganj district, while the lowest voter turnout with 28.66 per cent was recorded in Madhubani district.

Once a Naxal-affected area, Imamganj has struggled with underdevelopment for decades. Located near the Bihar-Jharkhand border, it plays a vital role in transit and trade between the two states. The local economy primarily depends on agriculture, with major crops including rice, maize, wheat, and pulses.

The Kutumba assembly constituency is a reserved SC seat in the Aurangabad district of Bihar. It has remained a stronghold for Congress, with the party's Bihar unit, led by Rajesh Ram, winning the assembly polls consecutively in 2015 and 2020.

Speculation has been rife over an alleged rift in the Mahagathbandhan. While the alliance partners, including Congress have denied such claims, PM Modi had earlier claimed that the RJD "forcefully" took the Chief Ministerial post from Congress despite the latter's objections during the negotiation phase during the election preparations.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sounding the poll bugle in Bihar's Aurangabad on Friday, took a sarcastic jab at the Opposition's 'rift-ridden' Mahagathbandhan alliance claiming that the Congress "does not have faith" in its ally RJD's manifesto, which he said was "a packet of lies".

"Even the Congress does not have faith in their (RJD) promises. Congress does not even talk about the RJD's manifesto. Bihar has also rejected RJD's package of lies," PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Aurangabad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold election rallies in Aurangabad and Bhabua constituencies in Bihar on Friday.

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, campaigning in Bihar's Aurangabad ahead of the second phase of Assembly elections, accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and PM Narendra Modi of neglecting Bihar's development while questioning corruption, high electricity bills, and lack of industries.