Arun Kumar is Senior Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He has spent two-and-half decades covering Bihar, including politics, educational and social issues.
Articles by Arun Kumar
BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav files nomination for Bihar assembly Speaker’s post
Yadav was accompanied by chief minister Nitish Kumar, deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and other leaders
Updated on Feb 13, 2024 12:45 PM IST
Nitish Kumar wins Bihar floor test to start fresh CM innings
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wins trust vote in assembly, securing 129 votes in the 243-member assembly after the opposition walked out.
Updated on Feb 13, 2024 05:59 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Nitish govt wins trust vote
In the 243-strong assembly, a total of 129 members voted in favour of the motion of confidence in the new government.
Published on Feb 12, 2024 09:42 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
CM Nitish Kumar-led NDA government wins trust vote in Bihar assembly
Speaking on the trust vote, the Janata Dal (United) chief said he could not continue when he found out there was corruption taking place
Updated on Feb 12, 2024 05:15 PM IST
Ahead of floor test, Shah to address BJP MLAs in Gaya
JD(U) has asked its legislators to gather at minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary’s residence in Patna for a meeting on Sunday, while on Saturday there will be a feast and get-together at his Cabinet colleague Shravan Kumar’s home on Saturday.
Published on Feb 09, 2024 09:24 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Ahead of floor test, Shah to address BJP MLAs, JD(U) calls its legislators to Patna
The NDA has 128 legislators in the 243-member Bihar assembly while the RJD, Congress, and Left parties have 114 lawmakers in the House
Published on Feb 09, 2024 04:32 PM IST
Nitish meets Modi, Shah, says now in NDA forever
It was Bihar CM’s first meeting with PM since the JD(U) supremo realigned with the BJP to form a new NDA government in Bihar on January 28.
Published on Feb 07, 2024 10:18 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Chirag casts an eye on four JD(U) seats, Giriraj’s Begusarai
Chirag Paswan has announced the names of 11 functionaries as party in-charge for as many Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, including four held by Bihar chief minister’s Janata Dal (United) and Begusarai, which is currently held by BJP heavyweight and union minister Giriraj Singh.
Updated on Feb 06, 2024 09:44 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar: DMs asked to take action against teachers for protesting over competency test
The Bihar teachers’ bodies and representatives are opposing the education dept panel’s recommendations of mandatory requirement of clearing the competency test for working teachers
Updated on Feb 06, 2024 03:46 PM IST
Ahead of trust vote, Nitish to meet Modi, Shah
This will be Kumar’s first meeting with the Prime Minister since his JD(U) returned to the BJP-led NDA on January 28 this year after deserting the RJD-led alliance in Bihar.
Updated on Feb 05, 2024 09:46 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar: Teachers’ body to meet ahead of budget session over govt panel proposal
The committee has made it clear that the first competency test will be held on February 26 and after the publication of results, three more would be conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board
Published on Feb 05, 2024 12:27 PM IST
Bihar govt dissolves 4 key panels formed by previous regime
The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar has dissolved four key commissions constituted during the previous Mahagathbandhan government.
Updated on Feb 05, 2024 08:04 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Nitish Kumar govt dissolves key panels set up under GA govt in Bihar
The decision to dissolve key commissions comes ahead of the floor test in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on February 12
Published on Feb 04, 2024 05:39 PM IST
Bihar portfolio allocation: CM Kumar retains home, dy CM Samrat gets finance
The Bihar cabinet at present has only eight ministers apart from the CM, while it could have up to 36.
Updated on Feb 03, 2024 03:50 PM IST
The impact of frequent alliance swaps on the bureaucracy in Bihar
When the political scenario keeps changing, as it has in Bihar, what does this mean for the officers of the state?
Updated on Feb 03, 2024 10:29 AM IST
Budget session of Bihar legislature to begin from February 12
The first of the budget session will commence with the joint address to the two Houses by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Central Hall, followed by the move to seek a trust vote by the Kumar-led government
Published on Feb 02, 2024 01:14 PM IST
Nitish Kumar to expand Cabinet, allocate portfolios before February 10
A BJP functionary said that there was no point in allocating portfolios and then again reallocating them after Cabinet expansion
Updated on Feb 01, 2024 12:44 PM IST
In Bihar, social engineering with a dash of aggression
Though the Bharatiya Janata Party avoids using caste as a narrative, its choice of deputy CMs is a sign of astute social engineering
Published on Jan 29, 2024 07:04 PM IST
NDA serves notice for House speaker’s removal day after Nitish rejoins alliance
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nand Kishore Yadav, a former minister, is expected to replace Awadh Bihari Choudhary as the speaker
Published on Jan 29, 2024 12:47 PM IST
Nothing surprising about Nitish turnarounds, but RJD says it will rebound
Will he? Won't he? A brief look at the Bihar CM's history of switching sides and staying in power
Updated on Jan 26, 2024 07:39 PM IST
Hectic parleys as cracks widen in Bihar alliance
In Patna, one RJD leader confirmed that senior leaders of the party, including former Union minister Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, met Lalu at his 10 Circular Road residence, but called it an “informal meeting”.
Updated on Jan 26, 2024 05:36 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar abuzz with rumours of Nitish Kumar breaking alliance with RJD, joining NDA
The official word from Nitish Kumar’s party JD(U) was that there is nothing wrong with the alliance, but it is clear that all is not well between it and the RJD
Updated on Jan 25, 2024 09:04 PM IST
Arun Kumar
Karpoorigram comes alive to celebrate Bharat Ratna to its son
In the afternoon, chief minister Nitish Kumar also reached Karpoorigram, all alone by helicopter, to pay respect to the great socialist icon at the Karpoori Smriti Bhawan.
Published on Jan 24, 2024 09:31 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Karpoorigram (samastipur)
Bihar OBC icon to get Bharat Ratna honour
Two-time Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, known for championing reservation benefits for OBCs, has been awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. The move is seen as an outreach by the BJP ahead of upcoming general elections, where caste is expected to play a major role. Thakur's legacy on affirmative action continues to have an impact in Bihar, and his award is seen as a recognition of his contribution to social justice and equality. The announcement comes as Bihar's government plans to celebrate Thakur's legacy and as the state emerges as a battleground for social justice politics.
Updated on Jan 24, 2024 05:34 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Patna DM faces off K K Pathak over classes in schools in cold wave
The education department on Saturday wrote to the DMs of several districts, asking them to revoke an order in which they have invoked prohibitory orders to direct schools to suspend lower classes due to cold wave conditions prevailing in the state. The Patna DM has shoot back, saying no.
Updated on Jan 23, 2024 09:44 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Despite unease Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal bound by bigger objective
The cabinet rejig shows that the RJD wants to play it safe, as seat-sharing issues are yet to be settled. Bihar's triangular politics gives it little elbow room
Updated on Jan 26, 2024 04:49 PM IST
Bihar education dept, district magistrates at loggerheads over school holidays
The DMs of several districts in Bihar have issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC to direct schools to suspend lower classes due to cold wave conditions prevailing in the state
Published on Jan 23, 2024 01:08 PM IST
Bihar: BJP, JD(U) lock horn over venue for Karpoori Jayanti function
The BJP said allotting the Miller School ground earmarked for the party for January 24 to the JD(U) is murder of democracy
Published on Jan 22, 2024 12:27 PM IST
Bihar budget session from Feb 5
It will be first budget after mega announcements of jobs, recruitments and financial incentives to over 9.4 million families found below poverty line in the caste-based survey conducted in the state, all of which require huge financial support.
Published on Jan 18, 2024 09:41 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Uncertainty prevails in edu deptt as Pathak extends leave
A week after additional chief secretary heading the education department in Bihar proceeded on earned leave, relinquishing his charge, the officer has now extended his leave till January 31.
Published on Jan 17, 2024 09:41 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna