Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid homage on Friday to CoBRA commando Solanki Mehul Bhai Nandlal, who lost his life during a vigorous anti-Naxal operation in the Usoor forests of Bijapur district. The 28-year-old CRPF constable was involved in a vital mission aimed at rooting out Maoist insurgents when he sustained fatal injuries in a gunfight, adding to the list of martyrs in India’s longstanding battle against Left Wing Extremism.

As the tricolor-adorned coffin of Constable Mehul Bhai was brought out of the 4th Battalion Headquarters of the Chhattisgarh Armed Forces in Mana, Raipur, Chief Minister Sai, alongside Home Minister Vijay Sharma and DGP Arun Dev Gautam, shouldered the remains in a poignant display of collective mourning and respect.

“The ultimate sacrifice of our courageous soldiers will not be in vain,” asserted CM Sai. “Shaheed Mehul Bhai exemplified the highest ideals of bravery and patriotism. We stand resolutely with his family during this time of profound loss and renew our commitment—Naxalism will be eradicated from Chhattisgarh by March 2026.”

Bijapur district has long been a center of Maoist activity. The CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, to which Constable Mehul belonged, specializes in guerrilla warfare and has played a crucial role in dismantling Naxal strongholds. Over the past 15 months, security forces have intensified their operations, resulting in the neutralization of over 400 insurgents and many surrenders.

The Chhattisgarh government has pledged enhanced compensation packages and government jobs for the families of the fallen personnel. However, beyond financial assistance, the emotional weight of these sacrifices profoundly impacts the state. As evening fell over Raipur, a solemn assembly of civilians, uniformed personnel, and political leaders observed a moment of silence—not just to mourn a fallen hero, but to honor a spirit of service that remains unwavering.

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey on Friday called out Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for hypocrisy regarding his criticisms of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s comments on Operation Sindoor. Recently, Gandhi questioned Jaishankar’s silence on the number of Indian Air Force aircraft lost during this operation, asserting that the nation “deserves the truth.”

In response, Dubey pointed to the 1991 Indo-Pak military transparency agreement, which was established during a Congress-led government, claiming that the Congress party has historically aligned itself with the “Pakistani vote bank.”

In a post on X, Dubey reminded Gandhi that the 1991 pact facilitated the sharing of military movement information between India and Pakistan, suggesting that Congress had previously supported security transparency with a country that has perpetuated anti-India actions since its inception.

“Rahul Gandhi ji, this agreement was made during your party’s rule. In 1991, your government agreed that India and Pakistan would exchange information regarding any attacks or military movements. Is this agreement considered treason?” he challenged.

“Congress is collaborating with the Pakistani vote bank. Does it benefit you to make disparaging remarks about Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar ji?” he queried, also sharing details of the agreement on social media.

Dubey emphasized that since 1947, Pakistan has been regarded as a terrorist nation, particularly in the context of long-standing conflicts over Kashmir, which he stated has been occupied by Pakistan. He accused Congress of compromising national interests for political gain, labeling their actions as betrayal to the nation.

Political and media discussions in Bihar are lively as speculation grows regarding significant political realignments ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for October-November.

Until recently, it was expected that the elections would primarily feature a contest between the NDA and the Grand Alliance, with the Jan Suraaj Party and AIMIM aiming to boost their vote shares in select constituencies.

However, recent political developments have sent mixed signals.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan’s recent meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna suggested a potential warming of relations between the two NDA allies. Observers note that both leaders may be eager to move past their previous tensions.

Nevertheless, Chirag Paswan’s declaration that he will soon return to Bihar to prioritize the interests of the state and its people challenges this narrative. His emphasis on addressing the issues faced by migrant laborers and his commitment to curbing migration from Bihar stands in contrast to Nitish Kumar, who has governed the state for two decades. This vision also hints at a possible collaboration with Prashant Kishor, who is advancing similar political ideals in Bihar.

The situation within the Grand Alliance isn’t stable either. The Congress Party’s strategic preparations for Bihar have been surprising both its opponents and allies. Though Congress is mobilizing considerable resources, it has yet to endorse RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is actively engaged and has visited Bihar multiple times this year. However, his planned event in Nalanda on May 27 had to be canceled due to venue unavailability.

Despite Tejashwi Yadav’s objections, Congress supported Kanhaiya Kumar’s bold entry into Bihar politics with the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ padyatra. Recently, Congress also endorsed the RJD’s ambitious ‘Mai Bahan Maan Yojana,’ which aims to provide underprivileged women with Rs 2,500 per month directly to their bank accounts. Yet, Congress leader Alka Lamba attempted to claim credit for this initiative by asserting that similar schemes have been implemented by Congress-led governments in other states.

Is the Grand Old Party focusing more on establishing its independent support base in Bihar to capitalize on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections?