Seat sharing tussle erupts in Bihar NDA; Top Naxal leader surrenders in Maharashtra

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar is witnessing internal friction after the BJP announced its first list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. The decision has sparked discontent among allies vying for key seats, though coalition leaders maintain that discussions remain “cordial” and efforts are on to resolve differences within the bloc.

In a major setback to the Maoist insurgency, top Naxal commander Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupathi, surrendered along with over 60 cadres in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. The senior politburo member, accused of orchestrating multiple attacks including the 2010 Dantewada ambush that killed 76 CRPF personnel, gave up arms amid internal rifts and intensified security operations.