Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar set to resign, Governors transferred, Iran-U.S. war updates and more: The week in 5 charts Oil prices surged last week as tensions between Iran and the U.S. escalated, with attacks on oil infrastructure in Tehran, Saudi Arabia, and neighboring Gulf nations. Brent Crude futures reached nearly $80 per barrel on March 2, 2026, following production cuts by state oil companies amid the conflict. Indian oil firms raised liquefied petroleum gas prices for the first time in over a year, according to Reuters. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced his intention to resign and join the Rajya Sabha, filing his nomination on March 5, 2026. His 20-year tenure as chief minister is the longest in the state’s history. His party, the JD(U), secured 85 seats in the recent assembly elections, with the BJP winning 89. The BJP reportedly plans to appoint a candidate from the Backward Class or Extremely Backward Class to replace Kumar. Three men convicted in the November 2025 gang rape of a 20-year-old woman in Coimbatore received life sentences. The perpetrators were arrested within 24 hours and convicted within 125 days, with surveillance footage and DNA evidence playing key roles. The case sparked political backlash against the DMK, with opposition parties criticizing the state’s lack of women’s safety. Seven governors, including Tamil Nadu’s R.N. Ravi, were transferred. Ravi, who faced conflicts with the state government over delayed bill approvals, university appointments, and speech delivery during assemblies, was moved to West Bengal. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, former Kerala governor, will assume Tamil Nadu’s governorship. India claimed its third T20 World Cup title by defeating New Zealand in the March 8 final.#us #iran #rajya_sabha #bihar_chief_minister_nitish_kumar #tamil_nadu_governor_r_n_ravi
Nitish Kumar: Veteran Bihar chief minister to step down for move to parliament Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of India’s eastern state of Bihar, has announced his intention to resign from his post to join the federal parliament. The 75-year-old leader, who has held the position for most of the past two decades, shared his decision in a post on X, stating that the new government in the state will have his full cooperation and guidance. His move marks the end of an era in Bihar politics, where he has been a dominant figure for years. Kumar’s decision comes after his Janata Dal (United) party and its allies, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), secured 202 out of 243 seats in the November state elections. This victory solidified his position as the leader of the ruling coalition, but his stepping down opens the door for a new chief minister, likely from his party or the BJP. Analysts suggest that Kumar’s departure could benefit the BJP, which has long struggled to form a government in Bihar on its own. If the BJP secures the top post, it would mark its first ever chief minister in the state. Kumar’s health has been cited as a reason for his decision, with party colleagues indicating that his deteriorating condition has made it difficult to continue in his role. However, he emphasized that his voters’ trust and support had enabled his government to serve the state with dedication. His resignation process may take time, as outgoing members of the Rajya Sabha (India’s upper house) will not vacate their seats until April. The transition to a new chief minister remains uncertain. While BJP national spokesperson RP Singh claimed the party’s parliamentary board will soon decide on a candidate, some leaders within Kumar’s party have expressed concerns.#rajya_sabha #nitish_kumar #bharatiya_janata_party #janata_dal_united #bihar
ईरान के तीन जहाज हिंद महासागर में थे, एक को हमने शरण दी राज्यसभा में विदेश मंत्री एस जयशंकर ने पश्चिम एशिया के हालात पर चिंता जताई विदेश मंत्री एस जयशंकर ने राज्यसभा में बताया कि हिंद महासागर में ईरान के तीन जहाज थे, जिसमें से एक को ईरान के निवेदन पर शरण दी गई। उन्होंने कहा कि ईरान के विदेश मंत्री से 28 फरवरी और पांच मार्च को बात की गई। ईरान के तीन जहाज हिंद महासागर में थे, जिसमें से एक को डॉकिंग की परमिशन दी गई। जयशंकर ने कहा कि ईरान में बिजनेस के सिलसिले में आए इंडियन नागरिकों को आर्मेनिया पार करके इंडिया लौटने में मदद की गई। तेहरान में हमारी एंबेसी पूरी तरह चालू है और हाई अलर्ट पर है। जयशंकर ने कहा कि भारत के लिए चल रहे झगड़े की गहरी चिंता है। उन्होंने बताया कि खाड़ी देशों में एक करोड़ भारतीय रहते हैं और काम करते हैं। ईरान में भी कुछ हजार भारतीय पढ़ाई या नौकरी के लिए मौजूद हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि इलाके में सुरक्षा की स्थिति काफी खराब हो गई है और झगड़ा दूसरे देशों में भी फैल गया है। आम जिंदगी और काम-काज पर साफ असर पड़ रहा है। उन्होंने बताया कि भारत के लिए वेस्ट एशिया में स्थिरता बनाए रखना ज़िम्मेदारी है। उन्होंने कहा कि तेल और गैस के कई ज़रूरी सप्लायर इस इलाके में शामिल हैं। सप्लाई चेन में गंभीर रुकावटें और अस्थिरता का माहौल गंभीर मुद्दे हैं। जयशंकर ने कहा कि झगड़ा लगातार बढ़ता जा रहा है और इलाके में तबाही बढ़ रही है। भारत की सरकार ने 20 फरवरी को एक बयान जारी कर गहरी चिंता जताई थी और सभी पक्षों से संयम बरतने की अपील की थी। उन्होंने आगे कहा कि तनाव कम करने के लिए बातचीत और डिप्लोमेसी जारी रखनी चाहिए। प्रधानमंत्री नए डेवलपमेंट पर करीब से नजर रख रहे हैं और संबंधित मंत्रालय असरदार जवाब देने के लिए कोऑर्डिनेट कर रहे हैं। यह भी पढ़ें: ईराक में इरबिल शहर पर हमला, अमेरिकी बेस के पास ईरान का अटैक#iran #india #foreign_minister #rajya_sabha #armenia
Abhishek Manu Singhvi Discloses Assets Worth Rs 2,869 Crore in Rajya Sabha Election Affidavit Congress Rajya Sabha candidate and senior Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi has disclosed assets worth over Rs 2,860.36 crore jointly held with his wife in his election affidavit for the Rajya Sabha polls. The document also reveals that his collection of artworks and paintings is valued at more than Rs 25 crore. Singhvi’s declared income has shown a significant increase over the past five financial years. According to the affidavit, his earnings totaled over Rs 374 crore in 2024–25, Rs 333 crore in 2023–24, Rs 359 crore in 2022–23, Rs 290 crore in 2021–22, and Rs 158 crore in 2020–21. This brings his total income for the five-year period to more than Rs 1,516 crore. The affidavit includes an unusually detailed breakdown of household and office appliances under the “other fixed assets” category, a level of specificity rarely seen in election filings. For instance, the value of a computer listed in the document has depreciated to Rs 163, compared to Rs 454 in the 2024 affidavit. Unlike many high-net-worth individuals, Singhvi has not declared any outstanding loans. He is a member of the Congress Working Committee and holds a PhD from Oxford University. Another Rajya Sabha contender, Vem Narender Reddy, declared movable and immovable family assets worth over Rs 41 crore in his affidavit. He also stated that no criminal cases are pending against him and that he has never been convicted in any legal matter. Meanwhile, the nomination of independent candidate Kante Sayanna was rejected by election authorities for failing to meet the required proposer threshold. As a result, Singhvi and Reddy were elected to the Rajya Sabha without opposition.#abhishek_manu_singhvi #rajya_sabha #congress_working_committee #oxford_university #kante_sayanna
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi Discloses Over ₹2,800 Crore Assets, Income Exceeding ₹1,500 Crore in Last Five Years Congress Rajya Sabha candidate and senior Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi has disclosed assets worth over ₹2,860.36 crore jointly held with his wife in his election affidavit for the Rajya Sabha polls from Telangana, as reported by The New Indian Express. The document, filed as part of the electoral process, outlines his financial disclosures for the past five years. According to the affidavit, Singhvi's total income during the five-year period surpassed ₹1,516 crore. This includes annual earnings of over ₹374 crore in 2024–25, ₹333 crore in 2023–24, ₹359 crore in 2022–23, ₹290 crore in 2021–22, and ₹158 crore in 2020–21. The figures highlight a significant increase in his declared income over the past decade. The affidavit also mentions that Singhvi owns artworks and paintings valued at more than ₹25 crore. These disclosures are part of the mandatory financial declarations required for candidates contesting elections in India. The data provides insight into the financial standing of prominent political figures and their assets, which are subject to public scrutiny under electoral laws. The information was shared by The New Indian Express, which reported on the details of Singhvi's financial disclosures. Such declarations are typically made to ensure transparency and compliance with electoral regulations, though they do not necessarily reflect the candidate's net worth or personal wealth. The details remain part of the public record and are accessible to voters and electoral authorities.#abhishek_manu_singhvi #the_new_indian_express #rajya_sabha #telangana #supreme_court
