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The Bihar government on Friday announced that Rs 50 lakh ex gratia each would be given to the family of personnel of the Army and CAPFs killed in action during Operation Sindoor.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

“The government has decided to give Rs 50 lakh ex gratia to the immediate family members of each soldier belonging to the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) hailing from the state, who made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Sindoor,” Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddharth said.

“The cabinet approved a proposal of the state Home Department in this regard,” he said.

As per the existing provision, the government gives ex gratia of Rs 21 lakh to the family of the Army and CAPFs who lose their lives in different operations.

Just days before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Bihar, a major political jolt has hit the party with 17 prominent leaders from Katihar district deserting the Congress and joining the BJP.

The political shift comes with serious allegations against senior Congress leader and six-time MP Tariq Anwar, further deepening the rift within the party and raising questions over Congress’s strength in the state.

The dramatic defection was led by Vikas Singh, president of the Congress-affiliated labour organisation INTUC, who accused Tariq Anwar of fostering an “anti-upper caste mentality” in both his actions and rhetoric.

“This is just the beginning. Hundreds and thousands of workers are ready to join the BJP in the coming days,” declared Mr Singh while joining the BJP in the presence of Bihar’s PHED Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu at a function held in Patna.

According to Mr Singh, the decision of 17 influential upper-caste Congress leaders to switch sides stems from growing resentment against Mr Anwar’s alleged bias and attitude.

Gaya town in Bihar will now be known as ‘Gaya Ji’. The decision was taken into a state cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting the State’s additional chief secretary S Siddharth said that the decision was taken in view of local sentiments and the townS historical and religious significance.

Taking to X, Janata Dal United (JDU) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha thanked CM Nitish Kumar for renaming the town

“I am thankful to the honourable Chief Minister from the bottom of my heart for this important decision of changing the name and hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of ‘Gayaji’,” he said.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also welcomed the decision and said that this decision highlights the religious significance of Gaya

“The decision of the state cabinet to rename Gaya as ‘Gayaji’ is a matter of welcome and pride. This decision not only further highlights the religious significance of Gaya but also reflects the NDA government’s dedication towards Sanatan culture and commitment to the preservation of religious places,” Prasad wrote on X.

Gaya town is known for its religious significance. Lakhs of tourists from across the globe visit Gaya every year during ‘Pitrapaksh’ to offer ‘Pind Daan’ to the souls of ancestors.

Gaya was the part of the ancient Magadh Empire. The city is located on the bank of Falgu River. hree hills Mangala-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila and Brahmayoni surround it from three sides. The most attractive destination in Gaya is Vishnupad Temple. The temple is located on the bank of river Falgu River and has footprint of Vishnu incised into a block of basalt. People believe that Lord Vishnu killed Gayasur by placing his foot on Gayasur’s chest.

Bodhgaya is also situated in Gaya which is one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centre in the world. It was here under a banyan tree, the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha.

Former Union minister RCP Singh on Sunday joined Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party in Bihar, where assembly elections are due later this year.

Mr Singh also announced the merger of his ‘Aap Sabki Awaz’ with the Jan Suraaj Party.

The bureaucrat-turned-politician had floated his own party in November 2024.

He joined the Jan Suraaj Party in the presence of its founder Prashant Kishor.

“Both of us will work together to make Bihar a developed state,” Mr Singh said at a function here.

Hailing from Nalanda, the hometown of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mr Singh was an Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, and on central deputation, he first came in contact with Mr Kumar when the JD(U) chief was the railway minister in 1999.

After assuming power in Bihar in 2005, Mr Kumar, who was visibly impressed with the administrative acumen of Mr Singh, persuaded him to come to Bihar as his principal secretary.

In 2010, Mr Singh took voluntary retirement and joined Mr Kumar’s JD(U), which helped him enjoy two consecutive terms in the Rajya Sabha.

Later, he was also appointed as JD(U)’s national president.

However, in 2021, his induction into the Union Cabinet did not go down well with Mr Kumar. Mr Singh had stepped down as national president of JD(U) and was denied another Rajya Sabha term a year later.

Later, Mr Singh joined the BJP in 2023 after leaving the JD(U).

The merger of former Union Minister RCP Singh’s party with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party has stirred the political pot in Bihar, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claiming a hidden agenda behind the move.

The development comes ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, with political realignments gaining pace.

RCP Singh, a former close aide of CM Nitish Kumar and ex-National President of Janata Dal (United), had floated his party after parting ways with JD(U).

However, on Sunday, he merged his party with Jan Suraaj, founded by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor.

Reacting to this new alliance, Tejashwi didn’t take names but dropped strong hints that the BJP could be “orchestrating” the development behind the scenes.

“Both of them were in JD(U), one a national vice president, the other a national president. Who is getting all this done and how it is happening, people of Bihar know everything,” Tejashwi said while interacting with the media persons in Patna.

Tejashwi added, “If two rebels of JD(U) have come together, then everyone understands whose game this is. We don’t need to say much. People are watching everything.”

Mr Kishor and Mr Singh alleged that contractors have “hijacked” the JD(U).

Mr Kishor called on JD(U) workers to desert the “sinking ship”, claiming that it was being run by “five contractors” rather than seasoned politicians.

The Jan Suraaj Party founder alleged that contractors with no political background make key decisions in the JD(U) and the state government.

“Nitish Kumar neither runs the party nor the government. Ask the five people running JD(U) to name even a district president of their party – they won’t be able to answer,” he claimed.

Tejashwi Yadav also took a jab at CM Nitish over his recent remark that there was nothing in Bihar before 2005.

In response, Tejashwi said, “2005 has frozen in Nitish Kumar’s mind. Before that, the voices of the people were heard, and bureaucracy didn’t dominate. Retired chief ministers and officers didn’t run Bihar.”

He added that international agencies like the United Nations had praised the work done in Bihar before 2005.

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