Third eye: INDIA Bloc's Paras test, experience in timing and Hampi temple bans bananas

INDIA Bloc's Paras test: LJP leader and former Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras had been feeling left out ever since his nephew Chirag Paswan became a Union minister in the Modi government. Paswan has also got the possession of the party office in Patna. Now, Paras is trying to mend ways with the INDIA bloc. On Thursday, Paras organised a lunch at his Patna residence where he invited RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who hinted that RJD-led Bihar's grand alliance might take Paras on board.

Experience in timing

The early morning swearing in of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with Ajit Pawar in 2019 had drawn a lot of flak, with the move triggering memes online. But Fadnavis took it all in his stride. So, when Fadnavis became chief minister for the third time in December, he was careful in choosing the swearing-in time. When asked about it, Fadnavis’ tongue-incheek reply was he made sure that the timing this time was in the evening, and not morning.

Hampi temple bans bananas

A 7th-century shrine of Lord Shiva in Hampi has banned bananas in its premises, stating that devotees tend to overfeed the temple elephant. The management of Virupaksha temple said on Thursday that they decided on the ban for the good of the temple, the elephant as well as the devotees. Endowment officer Hanaumantappa told PTI: “We saw that devotees get overzealous in their attempts to feed the elephant, which is not only harmful to the elephant concerned, but it also makes the place very dirty. The devotees leave behind banana peels and even the plastic bags.”