Muna Shamsuddin was appointed to the post in August 2023, while working at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in London. Her father hails from Kasargod

A recent report by the Central Pollution Control Board submitted to the National Green Tribunal reveals that the water quality during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj was suitable for bathing, based on statistical analysis.

With the political temperature rising in poll-bound Bihar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav today responded sharply to rumours that his party had reached out to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to try and get him to switch political camps ahead of the election.

During a press meet, Mr Yadav was asked about rumours that his party was trying to get Mr Kumar, a former ally, to the Opposition camp that is gearing up for a big fight with the BJP in the state polls later this year.

“Who gives you these ideas? why will we welcome him? There is no offer, don’t talk nonsense. No one other than Lalu (Yadav) ji and I is authorised to make offers, and no offer will be made,” he said.

The rumours of behind-the-scenes outreach between JDU and RJD are playing out against the backdrop of Mr Kumar’s history of flip-flops across the political aisle. Once RJD founder Lalu Yadav’s arch-political rival, Mr Kumar tied up with RJD in the 2015 state polls and the alliance scored a thumping win. Two years after the election, Mr Kumar walked out of the alliance and joined hands with the BJP to return as Chief Minister. JDU and BJP fought the 2020 polls in alliance, but Mr Kumar made another flip-flop two years later and returned to the Opposition camp. In 2024, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the JDU chief made his latest switch and returned to the NDA. The BJP backed him as he took the oath for the ninth time.

The last few days have seen stormy exchanges between Mr Kumar and Mr Yadav.

During the debate on Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s address, Mr Kumar thundered at the RJD leader and said he made Lalu Yadav the Chief Minister.

“Even the people of Lalu Yadav’s caste (Yadav) had refused to make him CM, but I supported him. I made your father (Lalu Yadav) CM,” he said.

Mr Kumar, a key face of Janata Dal politics in 1990s, was Mr Yadav’s brother-in-arms before the two parted ways and Nitish Kumar charted his political journey, eventually becoming Chief Minister in 2000. Targeting Mr Yadav, once his Deputy, Mr Kumar said he was a child who did not know anything.

In a sharp response, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly said it was RJD’s support that made Mr Kumar Chief Minister twice and saved his party. “Yesterday, Nitish Kumar said in the Assembly that he made Lalu Yadav the Chief Minister. Forget about what Nitish Kumar says… But Nitish Kumar should remember that even before him, my father had already been elected as an MLA twice and once as an MP. Forget about Lalu Yadav, Lalu Ji has made many Prime Ministers. I made him (Nitish Kumar) CM twice and saved his party…,” said Mr Yadav.