LEAD

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he would bring “dictatorship” if voted back to power in this year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a rally in Bhubaneswar, Kharge appealed to people to “save democracy”, and said that if Modi wins the Lok Sabha polls, there will not be another election after that.

“Like (Vladimir) Putin’s presidential election in Russia… the same will happen in India. There will be no election (after the coming one, if the BJP is voted to power)… they will use their might to rule the country… they will get elected and get 200, 300, 400 and 500 (seats)… they will even take the number to 600,” said Kharge, who is on his first visit to Odisha – which will hold Assembly elections alongside the Lok Sabha election – after becoming Congress president.

Nitish Kumar took the oath as the chief minister of Bihar for the record ninth time on Sunday, resigning on the same day and breaking ties with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He returned to the BJP-led NDA, and following this, two of BJP leaders – Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha – also took the oath as deputy chief ministers. The list of ministers who took the oath on Sunday also included members of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM-S) party and an independent MLA.

Nitish Kumar speaks to media after swearing-in as chief minister of Bihar on Sunday.

India ushered in its 75th Republic Day on Friday with a grand display of its women power and military might that included elite marching contingents, missiles, warplanes, surveillance gadgets and lethal weapon systems, with French President Emmanuel Macron gracing the occasion as the chief guest.

For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent marched down the Kartavya Path, reflecting the country's growing 'Nari Shakti' (women power).

India gears up for its platinum celebration of the country's Republic Day on Friday with an enthralling exhibition of its military prowess and rich cultural heritage at the majestic 'Kartavya Path' in New Delhi.

French President Emmanuel Macron, the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations, began his visit with some sightseeing in Jaipur, where he visited a 17th-century fort and an 18th-century observatory. Later, Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood in an open jeep as they were driven for about 1.5 kilometres. Large crowds lining the streets welcomed them with a shower of rose and marigold petals.

The Trinamool Congress will contest the elections for Bengal's 42 Lok Sabha seats on its own steam, and only consider a pan-India alliance with the Congress after results are declared, a furious Mamata Banerjee declared Wednesday. Ms Banerjee's words deliver what appears to be a final blow to hopes the two parties - widely seen as important members of the INDIA opposition bloc - will reach any agreement.

"I had no discussions with the Congress. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I gave them (the Congress) many proposals... but they rejected them. I am not concerned about what will be done in the (rest of the) country... but we are a secular party and, in Bengal, we alone will defeat BJP."