Ravi Shankar Prasad

The Bharatiya Janata Party has intensified its criticism of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following Enforcement Directorate raids on the offices of consultancy firm IPAC. Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament, Ravi Shankar Prasad, questioned the Chief Minister's presence at the private premises during a press conference. He asked, 'What is DD hiding?'. The controversy erupted after Ms. Banerjee was seen leaving the raid with a file in her hand. In response, the BJP organised a rally where protestors carried placards calling the Chief Minister a 'thief of files'. The political standoff has also moved to the legal front, with the ED, IPAC, and TMC filing cases in the Calcutta High Court, which are expected to be heard on January 14th.

A political firestorm has erupted in West Bengal following Enforcement Directorate raids on the offices of election strategy firm IPAC, triggering a direct confrontation between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Centre. A senior BJP leader accused the Chief Minister of shaming democracy, stating, 'The crucial issue is will Mamata go and snatch the papers from the ED forcibly by misusing her police force'. He condemned her actions as 'atrocious behavior'. In response, the Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of weaponizing central agencies ahead of elections. A TMC MP alleged the raids were an attempt to steal election strategies because the BJP's internal surveys show them losing ground. The conflict has moved from the streets of Kolkata and Delhi to the Calcutta High Court, marking a significant escalation in the pre-election face-off in the state.

Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad launches a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for confronting Enforcement Directorate officials during a raid. Prasad condemns what he calls the 'atrocious behavior of Mamata Banerjee', stating it is 'condemnable to the extreme'. He accuses her of shaming democracy by personally intervening, snatching documents, and frustrating the investigation into alleged money laundering. Prasad alleges a pattern of obstruction, citing past instances like the Sharda scam and the Sandesh Khali case. He dismisses the idea that Banerjee is a victim, calling her actions 'dadaagiri' (bullying) and a sign of desperation. Prasad expresses confidence that the people of Bengal are fed up with her 'maha jangal raj' (great jungle rule) and will vote for a decisive change in the upcoming elections.

A political firestorm has erupted in West Bengal following Enforcement Directorate raids on the offices of election strategy firm IPAC, triggering a direct confrontation between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Centre.

A political firestorm erupts in West Bengal following Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches at premises linked to the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC). The debate centres on the timing of the raids just months before elections and accusations of the central agency being used as a political tool. Political analyst Garga Chatterjee argues vehemently against the pressure, stating, 'if Bengalis cannot be threatened into submission by any force in the earth or in the universe, this is very important'. Countering this, BJP National Spokesperson R.P. Singh questions the presence of state government files at IPAC's office. The discussion also covers the ED's claims of tracing a money trail of over 10 crore rupees linked to a coal scam case, while the Trinamool Congress highlights the agency's low conviction rate.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of 'unconstitutional' and 'irresponsible' behaviour. Prasad alleged that the Chief Minister interfered in an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at a private consultancy firm linked to a coal scam, reportedly snatching files from officials. He stated, 'The entire action of the Chief Minister is not only unethical, irresponsible, unconstitutional, but she has put the entire democratic process and governance to shame.' Prasad questioned Banerjee's alleged links to the consultancy firm, suggesting her actions were intended to protect sensitive information. He further contrasted her conduct with other political leaders during investigations and cited past instances like the Sharda scam and Sandeshkhali to highlight a pattern of obstructing central agencies. The BJP leader also referenced the recent framing of charges against Lalu Prasad in the land-for-job scam, asserting that democratic norms must be upheld during legal probes.

In a significant organisational development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Nitin Nabin as its new National Working President. The 45-year-old leader from Bihar, who is a five-time MLA from the Bankipur constituency, was welcomed at the party headquarters in Delhi by senior figures including Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda. This appointment is being viewed as a generational shift in the party's leadership, recognizing Naveen's organizational skills, which were noted during the 2023 Chhattisgarh election. The move is considered strategic as the party prepares for upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Naveen, son of late veteran BJP leader Nabin Kishore Sinha, attributed his advancement to his father's blessings and the party's faith in its workers.

The focus is on Patna's Gandhi Maidan, where Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar's Chief Minister for the tenth time, forming a new government with the NDA. The new cabinet includes two Deputy Chief Ministers from the BJP, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. The ceremony is attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP Chief JP Nadda. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad stated, 'The people of Bihar, the people of Maharashtra, the people of Delhi, the people of Haryana are compensating for the way they were thought to be misled upon palpable falsehood.' The bulletin also details the political career of Nitish Kumar, from his beginnings in the JP movement to the formation of the JDU.

This special report on News Track focuses on Nitish Kumar's upcoming swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record tenth time at Patna's Gandhi Maidan. The bulletin details the consolidation of the NDA in the state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders set to attend the ceremony. It examines the potential cabinet composition, including the roles of Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha, and the allocation of ministries among allies like the LJP (Ram Vilas) and HAM. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad states, 'his commitment on integrity has been very firm. In that way, this victory is a vindication... of his persona, his performance, and above all, the quest for a developed Bihar'. The programme also features JDU leader K. C. Tyagi, who reflects on Nitish Kumar's two-decade-long political journey and his focus on development and women's empowerment in Bihar.

Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad discusses the National Democratic Alliance's landslide victory in the Bihar assembly elections, where the BJP and JD(U) secured 89 and 85 seats respectively. In an exclusive interview, Prasad analyses the win as a reaffirmation of trust in Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a rejection of the opposition's narrative during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He states, 'this victory is a vindication, astounding vindication of his persona, his performance and above all, the quest for a developed Bihar, where Narendra Modi's commitment, the guarantee for development of Bihar also played a crucial role'. Prasad also reflects on the stability of the BJP-JDU alliance and dismisses speculation about friction over cabinet portfolios ahead of Nitish Kumar's historic tenth swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister.

BJP Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad discusses the National Democratic Alliance's significant electoral victory in Bihar, attributing the success to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the performance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Reflecting on the results, Ravi Shankar Prasad states, 'It is a historic, tectonic moment in the polity of India.' The discussion also covers the role of women voters, development work in the state, and a critique of the opposition, with Prasad asserting that the people of Bihar have risen above caste-based politics to vote for hope and trust.

This Special Report from India Today focuses on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile roadshow in Patna, a major campaign push for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections for the NDA. The event, which started from Dinkar Golambar and also featured JD(U) leader Lalan Singh and Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, is analysed by political experts Rajat Seti and Sajjan Kumar. 'Have you ever seen any political leader of any human colour, any political ideology having people take out aarti thalis and trying to do aarti of a leader from their balconies?' asks political analyst Rajat Seti. The report captures the euphoric atmosphere as the Prime Minister's cavalcade moves through the city, just days before the first phase of polling on November 6. It explores the BJP's strategy to energise its core supporters and prevent complacency, juxtaposing the current political climate with the 2020 elections and highlighting the singular influence of 'Brand Modi' on the electoral outcome.

This special report focuses on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic roadshow in Patna, Bihar, a first for any Indian Prime Minister, and his tribute to the revered national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Political analyst Rajat Seti observed that the BJP's strategy is to 'present a very stark contrast between, you know, a united House of the NDA and Prime Minister going in hammer and tongs against the disunity in the ranks and file of the Congress. And the RJD.' The report details the BJP's aggressive campaign, with senior leaders like Dharmendra Pradhan and Vinod Tavde on the ground, reflecting a strategy to energize the party's base. The event is portrayed as Prime Minister Modi doing the 'heavy lifting' for the NDA alliance in the state, aiming to counter any complacency among urban voters ahead of the crucial polls.

This special report focuses on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's massive roadshow in Patna, a major show of strength by the BJP in its Bihar bastion ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The coverage delves into the competing campaign narratives of development versus the RJD's 'Jungle Raj' and features a sharp rebuttal from senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad to opposition attacks. Prasad stated, 'If Rahul Gandhi does not know how to respect the post of Prime Minister, then he is sanskaraheen (uncultured/lacking values).' The report captures the charged atmosphere on the ground, analyzing the BJP's strategy to energize its base and the significance of the Prime Minister leading the campaign from the front in a crucial state like Bihar. It also touches upon the absence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from the event, which was explained by his engagement in parallel public meetings.

This special report focuses on the political face-off during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Patna, Bihar, featuring BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and his sharp rebuttal to comments made by Congress's Rahul Gandhi. Reacting to Rahul Gandhi calling the Prime Minister 'darpok' (coward), Ravi Shankar Prasad stated, 'If Rahul Gandhi does not know how to respect the post of the prime minister, then he is sanskaar heen (lacking in values)'. The segment captures the heated election atmosphere as Prasad defends the Prime Minister and the NDA's development model. He dismisses allegations of internal conflict within the Mahagathbandhan as public knowledge and criticises Gandhi for his statements, asserting that such remarks are unbecoming of a political leader from a family of prime ministers.

This special report focuses on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign in Bihar, featuring a major roadshow in Patna and rallies in Ara and Nawada. The report also highlights the use of a Bhojpuri song by singer Pawan Singh to energize the campaign, with lyrics stating, 'Jodi Modi yaani 30 ji ke heat ho' (The Modi and Nitish-ji pair is a hit). The Prime Minister's visit also included paying tribute to poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and offering prayers at Takht Shri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. The campaign events saw massive turnouts, with the Patna roadshow being a first for a sitting Prime Minister in Bihar, signaling a high-stakes political battle.

This special report focuses on the mounting legal troubles for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, including his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav, after a Delhi court framed criminal charges against them. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad is quoted stating, 'Give land, get a job…give land, get a Railway hotel, this is the clear model of Lalu Prasad ji.' The charges stem from two main cases: the 'land for jobs' scam, where railway jobs were allegedly exchanged for land parcels during Lalu Yadav's tenure as Railway Minister, and the IRCTC hotel scam. The latter involves irregularities in leasing two railway hotels, one in Ranchi and another in Puri, to a private firm, allegedly in exchange for prime land transferred to the family. The developments come as a major blow to the RJD ahead of the Bihar elections.

This special report focuses on the mounting legal troubles for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, including his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav, after a Delhi court framed criminal charges against them. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad is quoted stating, 'Give land, get a job…give land, get a Railway hotel, this is the clear model of Lalu Prasad ji.' The charges stem from two main cases: the 'land for jobs' scam, where railway jobs were allegedly exchanged for land parcels during Lalu Yadav's tenure as Railway Minister, and the IRCTC hotel scam. The latter involves irregularities in leasing two railway hotels, one in Ranchi and another in Puri, to a private firm, allegedly in exchange for prime land transferred to the family. The developments come as a major blow to the RJD ahead of the Bihar elections.

Rahul Gandhi has made a significant claim, stating he has moles within the Election Commission who are providing him with information. He alleged this is happening because people inside the commission want to "save the constitution." This comes amid his charge of "voter chauri" or voter theft, where he claimed that top booths with maximum voter deletions were Congress strongholds. In response, the BJP has strongly countered the allegations. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that Rahul Gandhi's claims are the language of a "defeated" leader who does not trust constitutional institutions. Gandhi has indicated he will not move court with these charges, stating his job as an opposition leader is to "pressurize the government."

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of consistently insulting the mandate of the Indian electorate and undermining constitutional bodies like the Election Commission.