The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is all set to kick off at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7, with India — also known by the moniker Men in Blue — ready to lock horns with the USA. India led by Suryakumar Yadav should take the American team in its stride to start on a positive note. But it will be an Indian team without Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the best opening pair with an average close to 60 per innings. Numbers speak aloud for itself, but these are times when the people who pick the team refuse to look at the reputation of players and look at the current form of the players and the impact they make in the allotted positions in the batting order. And because of this, one finds the selection committee and team management back the mighty and carefree hitter Abhay Sharma and Sanju Samson, who is far from in good nick. These two had triggered rip-roaring starts scattering the ball all over the park and sort of intimated assorted bowlers in the first 36 balls; their highest start has been a 73 against South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. In comparison the highest by Gill and Jaiswal is 165 against the West Indies at Lauderhill three years ago. It’s a format one would have thought Rishabh Pant too would have been a perfect fit, but Gill, Jaiswal and Pant will not make headlines from February 7 onwards. Pant has scored 1209 runs off 950 balls batting at No.3, 4 and 5. The onus is now on Abhay Sharma and Sanju Samson — the Punjab Puttar and Malayali Magan — put the big runs on the board.

Sunny Deol, the iconic action hero known for his thunderous dialogues and patriotic fervour, has staged one of Bollywood’s most remarkable revivals in recent years. After a prolonged period of professional setbacks, where he endured a staggering 22-year drought without a solo hit from 2001 to 2022, delivering over 30 flops. Back injuries and experimental roles in non-action films further hampered his momentum, leaving the once-mighty “dhai kilo ka haath” wielder in the shadows. The turning point arrived unexpectedly with Gadar 2 in 2023, a sequel to the 2001 blockbuster. Reviving his role as Tara Singh, Deol shattered box-office records, amassing over Rs 691 crore worldwide and becoming his highest-grossing film ever. This wasn’t just a nostalgic hit; it redefined his career trajectory, proving that one film could indeed transform an actor’s fortunes. Suddenly, long-dormant sequels materialized: projects like Dev, Jatt 2 and Border 2, which had languished for years, gained traction. Border 2, released on January 23, 2026, has already emerged as a massive success, celebrating India’s Republic Day with patriotic zeal and featuring Deol alongside Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh. It has shattered records, confirming his resurgence, and even prompted announcements for Border 3 and Gadar 3. Adding to the excitement, veteran director Rajkumar Santoshi, Deol’s collaborator on classics like Ghayal and Damini, is keen to make Ghatak 2, a sequel to 1996 cult hit. Deol has been cautious about cashing in on nostalgia without strong scripts. With upcoming films like Lahore 1947, Ramayana: Part 1 (Diwali 2026), Gabru and Baap, Deol’s slate for 2026 alone could see up to seven releases. At 68, he’s not just back; he’s dominating, blending old-school machismo with modern appeal, reminding Bollywood that true stars endure. His journey from flops to blockbusters exemplifies that age is no barrier to box-office glory.

The meeting between West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi ended midway after sharp exchanges, with Didi walking out in a huff. She accused CEC Kumar of arrogant behaviour, misconduct and acting at the behest of the BJP. She described the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as unplanned and arbitrary. The nearly hour-long meeting was convened to discuss the SIR process in West Bengal. She led a delegation comprising her nephew and second in command of the party Abhishek Banerjee and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, along with 12 individuals affected by the exercise, including families alleging deaths due to SIR-related stress and voters reportedly marked as dead despite being alive. According to TMC sources, tensions escalated soon after Mamata questioned the conduct of the SIR, raising issues such as reported deaths and hospitalisations, the absence of SIR in Assam, publication of anomalous voter lists in Bengal and the appointment of micro-observers. Abhishek raised detailed objections, while Kalyan Banerjee pointed to legal concerns and Supreme Court directions. The TMC alleged that Kumar repeatedly interrupted the delegation and used dismissive language, leading to walk out of the meeting. The TMC highlighted that among the 12 affected individuals, two were from minority communities and 10 were Hindus, countering BJP claims linking objections to illegal immigrants. Didi warned of intensified protests if the EC did not change its approach and said she would continue the political fight on the streets. The EC rejected the allegations, stating that all questions were answered and warning that the rule of law would be enforced strictly. It accused some TMC legislators of threatening election officials and alleged obstruction of SIR work and non-payment of honorariums to booth-level officers by the Bengal government.

A hiatus teaches new tricks and treats to an artist. Silambarasan too needed this makeover, badly if he had to survive in Kollywood. After huge hits Manadu, Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya and Manmadhan, a noticeable slippage took place in his performance and choice of scripts. Simbu was quick to take action…worked on his body and appearance. More important…he signed up with director Vetri Maran for Arasan, a gangster film planned to be another Vada Chennai, Vetri Maran’s Hollywood style slick action movie. At one point the announcement that Vijay Sethupathi (a Vetri Maran’s stable staple) as heft for Arasan, raised the expectation quotient of fans. But suddenly Sethupathi opted out of this Rs 500 crore project. With Anirudh providing music, and a strong script, Sethupathi won’t be missed. Simbu’s next is God of Love, a counterpoint to gangster violence and vitriol. The movie, a romantic fantasy from the AGS stable, is temporarily titled STR 51. This soft avatar and its direction by Ashwath Marimuthu has raised the stock of God of Love considerably. Fans of Marimuthu may remember Dragon and Oh My Kadavule that left a lasting impression. Archana Kalpathi from the production house is optimistic that the film’s four dances of Simbu would definitely bring back his crackling electric presence with stylish dance moves. But what raised curiosity is the news of Bollywood star Mrunal Thakur as leading lady for Simbu. Tamil mags website even flashed photos of the pair, which went missing the next day. Are you trying to connect Simbu’s pairing with Mrunal and the sizzling news of a Dhanush Mrunal wedding? Dhanush and Simbu were teen friends till he married Aishwaraya, Rajinikanth’s daughter. What’s intriguing about real life links and film casting? The God Of Love title could just be a hit or miss.

Arijit Singh’s sudden decision to step away from playback singing swiftly followed by an even more unexpected development of entering active politics (joining BJP) has shocked his fans and well-wishers. With Assembly elections drawing closer, the induction of celebrities into political parties has become an increasingly common phenomenon in West Bengal. The speculation has not remained confined to social media and public discourse. Political circles, particularly within the BJP such as senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, Murshidabad BJP MLA Gaurishankar Ghosh and actor-politician Rudranil Ghosh acknowledged awareness of the rumours but confirmed that no communication regarding Singh’s possible induction had been received from the party’s central leadership. Observers analyse how Singh’s name was linked with politics. Gaurishankar Ghosh pointed to the singer’s longstanding humanitarian activities in Murshidabad. According to him, Singh has quietly supported several voluntary organisations and maintains a close understanding of his home district’s social and economic challenges. This sustained engagement with grassroots issues, he suggested, may have contributed to the political speculation surrounding the singer. The MLA further noted that Singh’s stature, influence, and compassionate public image could significantly benefit a backward district if he were ever to enter public life. Rudranil Ghosh, meanwhile, highlighted Singh’s past expressions on social media during moments of political and social unrest in Bengal. He referred to the singer’s involvement during the RG Kar movement, including the composition of a song, as well as political views occasionally reflected on his X account.  At present there is no confirmation from either side. But as they say there is no smoke without fire.

Time, they say, flies—and how true that is. Here we are celebrating our 5th Anniversary. Five years ago, when Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the globe, I took a leap of faith and launched Short Post, India’s first website for Authentic Gossip. That was on January 31, 2021. I was convinced there was a clear gap in the market for gossip that was credible, sharp, and impactful—especially if told in just 250 words. In this, I was fortunate. Scores of senior editors across diverse verticals bought into the idea and, in the process, gave wings to my dream. Quite honestly, Short Post could not have crossed these milestones without the unflinching support of its contributing editors. Like all start-ups, we have seen our share of ups and downs, but these editors have stood by us like a rock. I take this opportunity to doff my hat to them. Thanks to their commitment, we have published close to 5,000 stories spanning politics, business, entertainment, and sports. I say this with pride: we made our mark as people who matter read us. “Small packs, big impact” truly captures the essence of Short Post. We all know that Covid-19 has reset businesses worldwide, and the media sector is no exception. In the post-Covid era, investors have become more cautious and selective—and advertisers too. To compound matters, the entry of AI has disrupted the media landscape in equal measure. So far, we have managed to hold our ground, hopeful that some angel investors will take a shine to us. What gives me confidence is this: AI cannot smell news—especially the gossipy kind. In other words, AI cannot churn out Short Post-type stories, no matter the prompt. That puts us in a safe zone. As someone rightly said, “AI is a co-pilot, not a pilot.”

Notwithstanding public posturing by the DMK about firming up an alliance with the Congress, it is being said that senior DMK MP Kanimozhi didn’t have a nice experience trying to forge a seat sharing agreement with the Congress in the two rounds of meetings that she held with Rahul Gandhi this week. What particularly left a bad after taste in the mouth for her was the manner in which Rahul did not permit Kanimozhi to interact with Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath.  In fact, after the first round of meeting that was initially held in the Lok Sabha LoP’s office on January 28, it was Rahul who had suggested that Kanimozhi could come over to 10 Janpath. Kanimozhi saw it as an opportunity to interact with Congress matriarch. But Rahul made it clear that his mother was not available for sorting out dicey political alliance matters and that the DMK leaders have to deal with him. While the DMK raised the impropriety of Congress in charge Girish Chodankar thrusting a list of 41 assembly seats that his party wished to fight in his first meeting with CM Stalin, Rahul wanted to know why the DMK was not working “to strengthen the Congress at the grassroots and in local bodies” in TN. Rahul’s approach somewhat surprised Kanimozhi and  asked Rahul if he could speak to her half-brother Stalin. Stalin didn’t yield to Congress’ demand for more seats right away and said a panel would go into the demands. The DMK found it difficult to accept Congress terms of coalition power sharing. Rahul pointed out to Kanimozhi what the Congress was sharing with JMM in Jharkhand. Kanimozhi made it clear to Rahul that her party could offer 27/28 — 2 or 3 seats more than 25 that the Congress contested in 2021.

How times have changed quipped a veteran cricket administrator after Bangladesh chose not to travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – citing security concerns. A little over 25 years ago, the BCCI, steered by Jagmohan Dalmiya backed the entry of Bangladesh as a full member of the ICC, and the young nation played its first Test against India. Things have changed out of the blue a quarter of a century later; precipitated by political changes in that country, and the killings of a particular community there which seems to have nudged the BCCI to ask the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders to eject Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad for the IPL 2026 season. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), now clearly tilting towards Pakistan, and ordered by its sports advisor, took a call to ask the ICC to relocate its matches to Sri Lanka. The ICC did not budge and took a firm decision to drop Bangladesh from the tournament and replace it with Scotland. According to reports the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — supporting Bangladesh — threatened to pull out of the World Cup or not play India in Colombo saying its decision will be left to the Pakistan government. Nothing has been heard from across the border, but what’s certain is the relations between India and Bangladesh being shelved with no bilateral cricket likely to happen anytime soon. Tours to Bangladesh by India’s men and women teams were cancelled last year and henceforth Bangladesh will find it extremely difficult to request India to tour its country for a bilateral series – even if the political situation changes after the election in that country in February.

It seems to be the playbook of all the ruling state governments announcing social welfare schemes when the election is around the corner. So Tamil Nadu is no different. With the Assembly elections fast approaching the TN government headed by chief minister MK Stalin is announcing back-to-back policies, schemes, freebies and other initiatives that are essentially voter-friendly. Call it a curated mix of welfare, AI and technology and education, everything is coming together. In the previous month alone the state government announced various schemes such as free laptops for students to increase digital literacy, a sovereign AI data centre for secure AI infrastructure that will create 1000 plus jobs, newly polished pension scheme to support the elderly, Rs 3000 for pongal assistance to name a few. There are many more in the pipeline depending on which way the election wind blows. But at the end of the day by announcing various schemes and giving away freebies, the ruling DMK government is telling the people…we are on your side.

There seems to be no breather in the domestic aviation scene in the foreseeable future. Though the government proudly announced the entry of Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, FLY91 and Jettwings Airways, they are hardly going to ease air travel. All the new airlines plan to operate only on feeder routes and to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Following disruptions in flights through scheduled cancellations and delayed flights by IndiGo on December 5, 2026, DGCA had ordered a 10% cut in IndiGo’s overall flights — from 2144 flights per day to 1930 flights. As a result, Indigo had to vacate 717 slots out of which 364 were from major metro cities. But to everyone’s surprise there are no takers from existing or new airlines for the vacated slots. About the only airline capable of making a move is Akasa Air, which is awaiting induction of new aircraft in its fleet. Shankh Air, believed to be operated by a former truck operator and based out of Lucknow plans to fly on Tier- 2 and three routes — Varanasi and Gorakhpur. Goa-based FLY91, which planned to operate Airbus aircraft, today operates three ATR 72 -600. The flights are to Lakshadweep from Kochi, and to Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Bengaluru and Hyderabad from Goa. FLY91’s first year operations landed it with a loss of Rs 67 crore. Following this, it offered one of its ATR 72-600 aircraft on lease to an upcoming airline, Gulf-based Al Hind Air. For some reason the deal did not take place. And also, passengers on FLY91 have complained of frequent cancellations and disruptions in operations. About the only fresh lease of life for airline operators in India, dubbed the graveyard, is the new aircraft leasing policy.  With the setting up of GIFT City, airlines are shifting leasing units from Singapore and Ireland to Gujarat to take advantage of the new leasing terms and tax exemptions.

The battle lines have all but been drawn for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls 2026. It is advantage DMK as the polls head for a 3- or 4-cornered contest with actor Vijay the significant new player in the fray. The DMK-Congress alliance is yet to be formalised after seat-sharing talks hit speed bumps, but given the long-term relationship between chief minister MK Stalin and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress is only likely to keep its ties with the DMK going. Poll arithmetic in a contest in which the opposition to the regime is divided among the AIADMK-led NDA alliance, Vijay’s TVK which will be on a solo run and Seeman’s NTK, a fringe player who can however play spoilsport by taking away a proportion of the votes, will favour the ruling DMK despite the anti-incumbency factor. With a lack of data and history, no one can gauge Vijay’s advent into politics. But the way the BJP has played the cards against him is certain to bring him such sympathy for the treatment meted out to him and his last movie Jana Nayagan. Repeated questioning by the CBI with regard to the Karur stampede is another good reason why more people will gravitate towards the TVK. Also, people are yearning for change from the tired Dravidian politics. Even so, it will be DMK, with its committed cadre vote, that will come away with less of its vote share diminished even as AIADMK, which got a near equal vote share in 2021, suffers from its association with the northern upper class party BJP. Stalin seems set to emulate Jayalalithaa’s 2016 performance when her AIADMK was re-elected. The alliances are all but set now no matter what conspiracy theories may be floated from here and what pulls and pressures may come up in the last mile to the polls.

The grapevine has it that Bollywood is set to flesh out yet another police story, this time around infamous policeman Pradeep Sharma, who liquidated 112 criminals in alleged encounters, mostly in Mumbai city. Ab Tak 112 (112 encounters till now) is tentative title of film being bandied about, in apparent one-upmanship to earlier film based on rival policeman, Daya Nayak, titled Ab Tak 56. Both Mumbai police officers had suffered ignominy of suspensions and even dismissal during their chequered careers with a Mumbai Crime Branch probe revealing 214 of the 300 police encounters between 1998 and 2000 were fake. The two are also dwarfed in comparison to DCP Mallaiah G Yadav, who has encountered and liquidated 672 criminals and Naxals in a distinguished career marked by genuine police encounters. Unlike the cinematic bravado that often romanticizes extra-judicial action, DCP Mallaiah G Yadav’s record was forged in India’s most unforgiving internal security theatres, where Naxal insurgency, organized crime and armed extremism merged into daily warfare against the State. His encounters were not urban spectacles staged for headlines but outcomes of prolonged intelligence gathering, cordon-and-search operations and armed retaliation by extremists who chose bullets over surrender. Serving across sensitive districts, Mallaiah systematically dismantled Naxal formations, eliminated dreaded area commanders and neutralised criminal syndicates that had paralysed governance, extorted civilians and assassinated public servants. Unlike his Bollywood counterparts whose careers collapsed under allegations and departmental action, Mallaiah’s service record reflects institutional trust, repeated high-risk postings and operational continuity over decades. As cinema mines old encounter legends for box-office revival, DCP Mallaiah G Yadav’s story remains largely untold—perhaps because it is too stark, too real and too uncomfortable.

Shahrukh Khan’s King is waiting to break the box office and music systems of the young and restless…and along with King Khan’s magic, young music director, the 35-year old Anirudh Ravichander is all set for a sound blast. Having set music for Khan’s blockbuster Jawan for which Anirudh walked away with Rs 10 crore. His line-up of superstars, Shah Rukh, Rajinikanth, Allu Arjun, Nani, Vijay is the envy of many established music directors. Anirudh’s signature tunes started with ‘Why this Kolaveri’ sung by Dhanush in 2012. Anirudh is a rare challenge to maestro Ilaiyaraaja right on top of the pyramid and AR Rahman the Oscar holder for music with melodies that have endured. Once Anirudh asked ARR, “Sir which star is your inspiration…Superstar Rajini of course, he said. Anirudh from Rajinikanth’s family, grinned. With so much name and fame, this young man has not let complacence go to his head. He is popular with every production house and is an acknowledged team player. “My team is very alert…even at 50%, they want higher reaches. My instinct follows them,” AR Rahman once told him, “Ani, include more classical North Indian and South Indian ragas for longevity.” Whatever his choice of ragas or beats, he holds the unique record on Spotify for 13 billion streams by an Indian music artist. This hugely popular man is of course chased ..by female fans. His short dalliance with singer actor Andrea Jeremiah spread like wildfire. But it was not encouraged as he hails from a conservative Iyengar family. This young King of music is the perfect foil for a salt and pepper look for King Khan’s gangster film. Anirudh is ready to make the King, who has been there, seen it all, dance to his tunes.

With Assembly elections around the corner, the idea of a minority-led alliance has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty for the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party the Trinamool Congress (TMC). While there is little concrete evidence to suggest an imminent erosion of the TMC’s minority vote base, emerging formations and alliance talks could complicate electoral arithmetic in select pockets of the State. The most visible symbol of this mobilisation has emerged along National Highway 12 in Beldanga, Murshidabad district, where suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has begun constructing a replica of the Babri Masjid. Kabir, who has floated the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), has accused the TMC of pursuing policies harmful to minorities and is seeking to politically consolidate Muslim voters. Early January, Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui called for a minority party alliance against TMC and BJP. The ISF, linked to the Furfura Sharif shrine in Hooghly, has held discussions with the JUP, alongside talks involving the SDPI, the political wing of the banned Popular Front of India. Muslims constitute about 27% of West Bengal’s population. Minority and women voters have been central to the TMC’s dominance since 2011. Minority leaders cite discontent over OBC list exclusions, Waqf law amendments, and the return of TMC MP Mausam Benazir Noor to the Congress in Malda. Yet, many Muslims continue to see Mamata as the most credible bulwark against the BJP, which is banking on minority vote fragmentation and Hindu consolidation. Kabir met CPI(M) State secretary Mohammed Salim in Kolkata to explore the possibility of contesting the elections together with the ISF. The meeting has sparked unease within sections of the CPI(M), particularly in refugee-dominated and urban areas of south Bengal. Some leaders fear that association with Babri Masjid symbolism could be electorally damaging.

Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat is likely to serve another term. It is reported that he is looking to take over as governor of Maharashtra, which is his additional charge at present. Devvrat was appointed governor of Gujarat in July 2019 while he took the additional charge of Maharashtra on 15 September 2025. Devvrat’s gubernatorial career began in Himachal Pradesh, where he served from 2015 till 2019. Currently, this is his second term in Gujarat. Thus, Devvrat has already served for over 10 years, making him one of the longest-serving governors under the Modi administration. Although Maharashtra is his additional charge, it is noticed that Devvrat is quite active in the state, generating murmurs that he may be a top contender for a full-time appointment here. The issue assumes significance since previous Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari is at the receiving end after the Padma Bhushan honour was bestowed upon him by the Centre. Under Article 156 of the Constitution, a state governor normally enjoys a tenure of five years. However, there is no bar on her or his continuation till the successor is named. Due to certain actions and statements of Koshyari, a lot of bad blood was created between him and then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Given the prime position of Maharashtra in the country, the Centre will choose its next governor by taking all precautions to ensure that no friction occurs, it is certain.

Artists from India have always looked forward to visiting London, a city that consistently celebrates global culture and artistic excellence. This spring –February to April — the UK will witness a remarkable cultural season as some of the world’s most renowned Marathi artists arrive to showcase their extraordinary talent. London’s enduring appeal to the arts continues, and the Maharashtrian community in the UK has once again succeeded in hosting exceptional performers from India. Leading this season is eminent actor-director-writer and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner Dilip Prabhavalkar. Widely admired for his iconic work across Marathi and Hindi theatre, television and cinema, Prabhavalkar will captivate audiences with a unique and immersive audio-visual experience that promises to be both powerful and memorable. Adding to this rich cultural offering is celebrated Hindustani classical vocalist Vidushi Devaki Pandit, a distinguished disciple of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki. Her UK tour will feature classical compositions, light vocal pieces, and a deep exploration of the subtle nuances of Hindustani classical music, engaging audiences with both depth and elegance. The season also welcomes two outstanding young instrumentalists from Pune, each carrying forward legendary musical legacies. Ninad Daithankar, continuing the tradition of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and Saurabh Vartak, a disciple of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, will present classical performances alongside the much-loved Shiv-Hari compositions that have enriched Bollywood cinema. Together, these events promise a vibrant and enriching cultural journey from Maharashtra, touring multiple cities across the UK. The growing artistic affinity between Maharashtra and London stands as a testament to the enduring power of cultural exchange.

The general impression is that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is skating on thin ice these days. This impression is gaining currency because Majhi’s overall performance has not been stellar. Failing law and order situation, atrocities on women, rampant corruption and flight of industries to other states continues to grab headlines. Critics say Majhi’s leadership has been lacklustre with slow implementation of election promises and major reforms not taking shape, causing his popularity to drop. Political analysts say Majhi’s style of working as figurehead has to change giving way to being a decisive leader focussing on performance. This explains why political leaders and analysts are now urging the Odisha CM to assert his authority and provide results on the ground, so that his leadership remains intact. Otherwise, he could be overshadowed by competitors like the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who has never hidden his ambition to rule Odisha one day. In fact political analysts say Pradhan is the de-facto master strategist holding the sceptre, while CM Majhi holds the temporary crown.

Maharashtra’s tableau, “Ganeshotsav : A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) has been adjudged the best among the floats submitted by the States and Union Territories at the 2026 Republic Day parade. The honour has been won by the state after a decade’s gap. The float this time has highlighted cultural, economic and environmental significance with traditional Dhol-Tasha and Lezim performers, securing the top prize for showcasing Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage. Incidentally, in 1993 also, the same theme, “Ganesh Utsav” was termed the best in the parade. It was selected to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the now largest public festival in the world, conceived by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The top position was again secured in 1994 to remember Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation and beginning of the Shivaji Era. The hat trick was achieved since in 1995, the spiritual pilgrimage of the Warkari sect was the theme. However, after this winning spree, Maharashtra did not reach the top position till 2015, when its tableau themed on the “Wari” tradition once more grabbed the coveted place. The Maharashtra tableau 2026 combined traditional imagery with modern themes, including the Ashtavinayak shrine, highlighting the economic and social impact of the festival. In 2023, Maharashtra’s tableau on “Saade Teen Shakti Peeth” (three and a half Shakti Peethas) had won the popular choice award though the main award had gone to Uttarakhand. In 2022, Maharashtra had secured the first prize in the popular choice category for its tableau on the “Biodiversity of Maharashtra.” While Jammu & Kashmir won the second prize, it was followed by Kerala in the third place.

Odisha’s renowned event management company, RR Events, led by Ramesh Barik, has announced a strategic tie-up with Essar Events, UK, to host a grand Five Star Global Awards Night in London. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place on 24 May 2026 at London’s iconic Novotel Hotel, marking another milestone in showcasing Odisha on the global stage. Barik, who has been instrumental in promoting Odisha’s heritage, culture, and film industry internationally, successfully organized the Five Star Global Awards in Dubai in 2024 and Singapore in 2025.  The London edition will feature nearly 40 major stars from the Odia film industry, alongside prominent artistes from Bengal, making it a first-of-its-kind collaboration where Ollywood, Tollywood and Bollywood artistes perform together on one platform. To execute this mega-scale event, RR Events has entrusted the complete responsibility of logistics, production, and on-ground execution to Essar Events led by Siba Ranjan Biswal, a well-known figure in the UK’s Odia community and former Secretary of the Odisha Society of the UK. The three-day celebration will include performances featuring Odia songs, folk dances of Odisha, stand-up comedy and cultural showcases. A major highlight will be the exclusive presentation of Odisha’s traditional cuisine, reinforcing cultural diplomacy through food and art. Several ministries from Odisha are expected to participate in a meet-and-greet session with UK-based industrialists and business houses, aiming to promote investment opportunities and strengthen UK–Odisha ties. Veteran stars Sharmila Tagore, Rituparna Sengupta, and Govinda are likely to attend, while leading Odia actors including Kuna Tripathy, Elina Samantaray, and other top stars have confirmed their presence.

If Ajit Pawar’s widow Sunetra Pawar is emerging as the favourite person to find a place in Maharashtra government as Deputy CM and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party it is not without reason. Political circles in Delhi believe it is one elevation which would be most acceptable to top BJP leadership particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is being said Shah is inclined to ensure that Ajit Pawar’s legacy survives in Maharashtra. Shah remembers the late Deputy CM as one person who had always gone out of the way to bail out the BJP in tricky situations in the state — whether it was in 2019 or in 2023. It is in this backdrop, Sunetra has emerged as a favourite for the top post. Shah who enjoyed a good equation with the late leader. Shah apparently valued the manner in which Ajit Pawar took the initiative to break ranks with his uncle Sharad Pawar and join hands with the BJP in 2023, a year ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls as well Maharashtra assembly polls. Which is perhaps why he made it a point to travel to Baramati for Ajit Pawar’s last rites. Besides, elevating Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, would be a simpler affair then say promoting NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, a Lok Sabha MP. It is also felt Parth Pawar could replace his mother in the Rajya Sabha. As for Sharad Pawar who would be retiring from the Rajya Sabha in April it is being said his nephew’s untimely death has totally shattered him and he may not seek another term. It is also being said that the BJP is not inclined to accommodate his daughter and pro-Congress NCP leader Supriya Sule, Baramati’s Lok Sabha MP, in Modi government.

Maharashtra’s deceased deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar fought tooth and nail to claim the election symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party – the wall clock showing the time at ten past ten or 10:10. This symbol was selected by NCP founder Sharad Pawar, who also shaped Ajit’s political career. Owing to political quirks, Ajit took on the elder Pawar and finally split the NCP in 2022, taking a substantial chunk of the elected representatives with him. In this battle of attrition, the timer played a crucial role since it was a political identity for the party. Ajit succeeded in humbling the family boss, at least temporarily. He seized the NCP name and symbol through a court battle. In a baffling coincidence, it has transpired that the identification of Ajit’s body was reportedly done on the basis of his wristwatch. After any fatal accident, personal belongings scattered at the site are helpful in identifying the deceased. According to some media reports, Ajit’s expensive wristwatch was an important tool for identification. The watch on Ajit’s wrist was of a classic design, with a metal strap and a large dial. It had a shiny silver finish, a sturdy metal bracelet and a dial with clear numerals and blue base. The photographs on social media show the watch on Ajit’s wrist as a classic and premium piece. Ajit’s various qualities have been described in detail by the people close to him. Incidentally, one of them was his emphasis on punctuality. Sadly, the chronometer in his life has served him even after his demise.

Sharad Pawar’s response to the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of his nephew, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, and four others is a telling example of political maturity. By unequivocally stating that the crash was an accident and that no politics should be dragged into the incident, Sharad Pawar has demonstrated a rare blend of personal composure, political wisdom and statesmanship—qualities that are increasingly scarce in a climate of instant outrage and relentless politicisation of tragedy. Hopefully, Sharad Pawar’s dignified stance sends a powerful message to leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Mallikarjun Kharge and Akhilesh Yadav who rushed to the television cameras to demand a probe into the plane crash, more so under Supreme Court supervision. Given their long tenures in politics and in government, they should have known that every air accident is thoroughly investigated, irrespective of public demand. This band of leadership with a destructive negative streak in its thinking will prove harmful to the nation one day if not checked in time. In contrast, no political leader in Maharashtra has made any irresponsible statement nor condemned the government. Sharad Pawar has thus initiated the process of promoting healthy politics and articulated maturity of Maharashtra, where political and personal differences are kept isolated. Let Sharad Pawar’s political tribe grow at every level.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has intensified her cultural outreach to the state’s traditional bhadralok — the educated, intellectually inclined middle class — by foregrounding her persona as an author and artist. This strategy was prominently displayed at the ongoing Kolkata International Book Fair, where she released several new works and announced plans for “Boi Tirtha”, a permanent Book Pilgrimage Centre. These efforts underscore how her prolific literary and artistic output runs parallel to her political career. This year, nine of Banerjee’s books are being sold at the fair, bringing her lifetime total to 162 published works. Over the years, she has consistently expressed herself through songs, poems, paintings, and literature, cultivating a distinct artistic identity. During Saraswati Puja, she shared a song on X, with lyrics and music composed by her. She is also a fixture of Durga Puja, often composing theme songs and devotional numbers like ‘Maa Go Tumi Sarbojanin’. Her creative work frequently blends cultural pride with political messaging. Recently, she penned 26 poems opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Her past works have addressed the Singur and Nandigram movements, as well as critiques of central policies like demonetisation, GST, CAA, and NRC. Unlike her predecessor, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who embodied a refined, elite intellectualism, Banerjee is often seen as outside the traditional bhadralok mould. She turns this perceived lack of polish into an advantage, presenting simplicity and emotional honesty as strengths. Boi Tirtha project for which she has assigned Rs 10 crore is envisioned as a museum-cum-mall for rare books, Banerjee has already sketched its design, aiming to provide Kolkata with a permanent literary landmark before the book fair’s 50th edition.

Varun Dhawan’s turn as Major Hoshiyar Singh in Border 2 is nothing short of a revelation. He brings together innocence and intensity, vulnerability and steel, playing a character who is emotional yet detached, fiercely loyal and deeply patriotic. His performance anchors the film: every nuance, small gestures, that trademark half-smile, and sudden flashes of resolve, adds layers to a role many had prematurely dismissed. When the first song, “Sandese Aate Hain,” dropped, social media was quick to mock Varun, spawning memes that focused on his style of acting and that one-sided smile. Those jokes snowballed into a narrative that he might be the weak link in a high-stakes war drama. But Border 2’s reception has decisively flipped the script. Opening around Rs 32 crore and rallying to over Rs 40 crore on its second day, the film was on track to cross the Rs 100 crore mark by the first weekend and possibly Rs 150 crore with the extended Republic Day holiday. Box-office success has a way of speaking louder than criticism, and in Varun’s case it has been vindication. More than just a personal win, this success has bolstered the film’s consolidated standing and reaffirmed Sunny Deol’s mass appeal, while giving Varun a new lease on his career. Critics and audiences alike are now praising his commitment, range, and the emotional truth he brings to the character. To the trolls who wrote him off early, the answer was simple: deliver a performance that connects—and let the numbers follow. In Border 2, Varun Dhawan has done exactly that, turning mockery into momentum and scepticism into applause.

The latest news from Odisha is that IndiGo airlines is planning to discontinue its thrice weekly direct flight service between Bhubaneswar and Dubai from March 2026. The service was launched on May 15, 2023 by then Biju Janata Dal government headed by Naveen Patnaik. It is learnt that IndiGo is not accepting any bookings beyond March this year. Regular air travellers are surprised by this move and have raised concerns. There are over 40,000 Odia diasporas living in the Middle East and this could affect their travel plans, business and tourism. An email query to IndiGo regarding this issue did not get any response. When direct flight scheme was launched, the then Patnaik had made Budgetary provision of Rs 100 cr towards viability gap funding (VGF) every year to ensure sustainability of service, wherein, the state had to bear part of the operational cost until passenger occupancy gets stabilised and the route becomes commercially viable. Sources at AAI New Delhi say when the Dubai flight is going full, why IndiGo is now resorting to this kind of pressure tactic? It seems, the ball is now in the BJP-run Odisha government’s court and how it resolves needs to be seen.

It is not hard to decode the confident stance of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin in the run up to state assembly elections. Surprisingly, he carefully moved away from the powerful shadow of his father M Karunanidhi to find his own space, emerging as a much talked about CM who could stand his ground. It was not surprising that he used his first Assembly address of 2026 to not just pat himself and his government on the back, but also list its achievements in the face of “daunting challenges”. Stalin was candid enough to admit “when he took over in 2021, there was much trepidation, self-doubt and a sense of fear …could I make TN happy, fulfil poll promises.” The self-congratulatory tone set in fast…“I am a happy man, very satisfied and can claim that we will form government 2.0 and even overtake our success.” This motivated chest thumping had its share of diatribes too…he blamed the previous 10 years of AIADMK rule for bringing down the state in every matrix of development. Stalin’s undiluted harangue and the way he took on the Governor RN Ravi and his running feud with him, added spice. For political watchers, it was an entertaining yet disturbing, unsettling phase when the Centre and State were at loggerheads. Federalism and democratic ecosystems bore the brunt of this clash. Stalin is no doubt a driven man, sure of his ability to pluck the low hanging fruit.

The police have issued a notice to newly elected All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporator from Mumbra, Sahar Shaikh, under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following a controversial remark in which she said the entire town would be “painted green”. The action comes after a video of Shaikh’s victory speech went viral on social media. In the clip, she is seen ridiculing NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad, who had been her political mentor until recently. “In the next five years, every candidate in Mumbra will be from AIMIM. Mumbra must be completely painted green,” she said. Soon after the video surfaced, a BJP delegation led by former MP Kirit Somaiya submitted a written complaint to the police, alleging that the remarks were provocative and could incite communal tension in the sensitive township. Objecting to the statement, Somaiya said, “Mumbra belongs to Maharashtra, and the state bows before the saffron of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.” Though his letter did not name Shaikh, the complaint prompted the police to initiate preventive action. A police official said the notice was issued as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. Shaikh has been advised to exercise restraint in public speeches and avoid statements that could hurt sentiments or disturb communal harmony. Responding to the controversy, Shaikh claimed that her words were being deliberately misinterpreted for political purposes. She maintained that her remark only reflected her ambition to expand AIMIM’s political presence in the area and was not intended to provoke or divide.

Maharashtra’s politics has long been a maze of caste equations, regional ambitions, cooperative networks and dominant local satraps. But in recent years — and more sharply after the latest civic and local body elections — a striking new trend is seen emerging. All political parties are discarding ideological commitments and old rivalries to cobble together expedient alliances at the grassroots. Across wards and municipalities, the political battle is no longer anchored in principles or programmes. Instead, it revolves around arithmetic, individual clout and the urgency for political survival. Once sworn adversaries, many are sharing rallies, ideological oppositions are sunk and erstwhile bitter enmities are quietly buried in the scramble for seizing power. Crass pragmatism has triumphed over sanctity of philosophy. In short, convenience has replaced conviction. In this arena of local politics, “no holds barred” has become the key word. It is a ruthless realism where power matters more than what one once stood for. While the BJP has established its numerical prime position in the state polity by winning over half of the seats in the 29 municipal corporations that went to the polls, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and the NCP established by Sharad Pawar were the main losers. However, in the post-poll scenario that is throwing one surprise after another, both these parties are engaged in forming alliances with some of their former opponents. The clear picture will become visible in a few days once the mayoral elections are held. Till then, the once unthinkable permutations and combinations will be watched by the hapless electors.

Maharashtra political potboiler is over, and yet the real corporate battle has only just begun. Suave Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched into Davos, Switzerland, knowing fully well Maharashtra’s top-notch status cannot be taken for granted has inked 85 MoUs. A state meeting recently witnessed his outburst, “If Hemanta Biswas can, Maharashtra will do better.” The comment was in context of the medical infrastructure blueprint that his Assam counterpart is credited with making progress. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, a Davos veteran, tom-toms his Hydrogen valley, Data Centre, Bio-Centre Capital of India, Google IT collaboration projects speaking quantum language. Biswas claims Rs 1 lakh crore in FDI to include a Data Centre project making Assam the gateway of South Asia, somewhere in the future. Fadnavis is single-mindedly prioritizing innovation, smart city securing Rs 1 lakh crore from five EU nations. The intense political battle he just won across 29 civic corporations, without involving PM Narendra Modi once, has bolstered his image. His business acumen, infrastructure push in the energy sector is crucial to bringing in business, no mean feat considering three decades old transmission and distribution lines running across the state compared to a fully rejuvenated Gujarat with fully modernized power transmission lines. Maharashtra is setting up 16000 MW of solar power to be distributed free to agriculturists in the state. If only focus on modernizing the three-decade old power infrastructure lines follows, the “theft and dacoity” of electricity as PM Atal Behari Vajpayee put it that hovers around 18-20% would be curbed bringing down electricity cost for industry on parity with other states of India.

Two days ahead of PM Modi’s public meeting at Madurantakam, Chengalpattu district on January 23, the BJP stepped up its campaign to expand the NDA ahead of the assembly elections. On January 21, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, rejoined the NDA alliance in the presence of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Chennai. He had moved out of the NDA in September 2025. This was six months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that AIADMK chief Eddapadi K Palaniswami would be the CM face and lead the AIADMK- BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu in April 2025. In a reversal of events early this year, Dhinakaran flew into Delhi, met Amit Shah to pave the way for his return into the NDA fold. It is being said the AMMK commands considerable influence among the Mukkulathor community or Thevars in southern TN. Dhinakaran rejoining the NDA could spell trouble for the ruling DMK. So too the joining of Anbumani Ramadoss-led PMK. It is being said Amit Shah was very keen that all anti-DMK votes in the South, particularly the Thevar community votes should not be fragmented. Dhinakaran described the past differences as merely a “family feud”. On his part, AIADMK chief Palaniswami also welcomed Dhinakaran.  The only person acting pricey is DMDK leader Premalatha, widow of late actor Vijayakanth. She is bargaining for two Rajya Sabha seats, a ministerial berth for her son in Modi Govt and some 20 assembly seats. It is her demand to accommodate her son in the Central Govt that has spooked Delhi. Meanwhile, it is learnt that DMK has asked Congress to scale down its demand for seats to 28 and has offered instead to bankroll poll expenses of Assam assembly elections. This simply shows how desperately DMK needs Congress — that is why it is trying to keep it away from actor Vijay’s TVK.

Ahead of the Assembly elections this year, the West Bengal BJP leadership is facing an uncomfortable situation after Kharagpur Sadar MLA Hiran Chatterjee posted pictures on social media announcing his second marriage, revealing that the ceremony had taken place in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency. What initially remained a low-key development within the party escalated after Hiran’s first wife, Anindita Chatterjee, publicly claimed that there had been no legal divorce between them. The claim has caused disquiet within the BJP, with party sources confirming that internal discussions are under way on whether Hiran, a popular Bengali star, should be re-nominated from Kharagpur Sadar. The issue has since acquired a legal dimension, with Anindita and the couple’s daughter, Niyasha, filing a complaint against the MLA and his alleged second wife. A section within BJP is viewing the issue with concern, particularly given the party’s ideological emphasis on Hindu traditions and Hindutva. Senior leaders, speaking off the record, acknowledge that while marriage is a personal decision, contracting a second marriage without a legal divorce can amount to a criminal offence and raises questions of propriety and ethics. The party’s current position, sources said, is that there is no documentary proof available so far to establish the second marriage. The filing of a formal complaint by Hiran’s first wife and daughter has, however, sharpened scrutiny of the MLA and fuelled speculation within party circles. The continued silence of the leadership, leaders admit privately, is being interpreted both as an attempt to limit political damage and as a possible indication of a growing distance between the party and the sitting MLA — a distance that could ultimately influence ticket decisions.

This year there has been too much shrill in the social media about the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.  The general lament has been “Why are India’s Union ministers and chief ministers going all the way to Davos to sign MoUs with the CEOs of Indian companies when the same could have been done in India …in the CM’s cabin”? Why waste taxpayers money? Effectively, countering this criticism, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told Rahul Kanwal of NDTV, that Davos is a meeting place…attended by the who’s who. A number of Indian companies have foreign partners and those people attend the event… and we get an opportunity to meet them while signing the MoUs. And sometimes we just meet the foreign partners and the MoU is subsequently signed in India. Adding further, he said all states in India hold Investment Summit … .so there is no need for it…you can sign MoUs in Mantralaya. Well put. The 56th meeting will see leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society and academia attend. Capturing the pulse will be over 400 plus journalists & media representatives. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international advocacy non-governmental organization and think tank founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer Klaus Schwab. The main objective of the Davos WEF is to “improve the state of the world” through public-private cooperation.

Nitin Nabin was formally declared as the BJP national president, succeeding JP Nadda, in a brief ceremony at party headquarters in Delhi on January 20. All party stalwarts including PM Modi were present. Even as he received a certificate of election from K Laxman, returning officer for BJP organisational polls, Nabin at 45, became the youngest ever to occupy the top party post. The BJP was founded in Mumbai — then Bombay — in 1980 — the year Nabin was born. Emphasising his youthful background, PM Modi went all out emphasising his “millennial background” and “Gen Z connect”.  “Nitin Nabin is a millennial. He is from a generation who has witnessed the country’s economic transformation”, the PM said introducing the new party chief. Outlining Nabin’s task, Modi felt his “youthful energy and long experience of working in organisation,” would help in expanding the party’s footprint across the country. Emphasising that he would always be a worker of the BJP, Modi said “And when it comes to party matters, I am a worker, and Nitin Nabin ji is my boss.” He also added that Nabin would have responsibility to coordinate with NDA allies. Meanwhile, Nabin’s sensitive millennial side was revealed in a video that was shared of Modi’s meeting with Nabin’s family at party headquarters…it showed Nabin as a caring father even as he was with PM Modi. Interestingly, PM Modi also shared why BJP is not into celebrating its wins whether in Mumbai’s BMC or even in Gujarat 2022 assembly polls when everyone had expected him to lose. “We are always into analysing our results/ mistakes. Or preparing for the next polls.”

The Kollywood jungle drums are sounding for a soon to be wedding. The smoke signals are strong as it concerns two celebrity stars — Rajinikant’s ex son-in-law Dhanush and the single saucy Mrunal Thakur. Dhanush and Aishwarya Rajinikanth parted ways after 18 years of marriage. Their two grown up children — Linga and Yatra — tried their best for the parent’s reconciliation. And when Dhanush built his much-touted Rs 150 crore mansion just around the corner from Rajnikanth’s media famed “Poes Garden home”, there were strong rumours that the estranged couple would reconcile. But that was not to be. The divorce was officially granted in November 2024. Dhanush has many hits in Tamil and Hindi films, even as Director he has been appreciated ..his other skills are script writing and singing. His last film Idli Kadai which he penned did good business. Now there are strong rumours about his romantic liaisons, even marriage with Hindi star Mrunal. May be the New Year and Thai Pongal have inspired him to announce that he is ready to take a second plunge with Marathi mulgi, Mrunal who has featured in successful films …Sita Ramam, Hi Nanna and Son of Sardar. Now it just needs the green signal from the two, so fans and followers can stop holding their breath and go on their way.

From his roots in Odisha to international recognition, Ramesh Barik, Founder & MD of RR Events & Cine Production, is fast emerging as one of the state’s most influential cultural ambassadors. Widely acknowledged as a star-standard cultural diplomat of Odisha, Barik has successfully taken the art, culture, and heritage of the eastern Indian state to global platforms through visionary event production. With remarkable strategy, he has brought together Odisha’s biggest stars and presented them on prestigious international stages. In 2024, Barik achieved a major milestone by hosting a grand Five Star Awards Night in Dubai, a hugely successful event that introduced Odia cinema, music, and culture to audiences across the Middle East. In 2025, he continued this global journey with a high-profile cultural showcase in Singapore. Now, Barik is preparing for what promises to be a historic moment — a large-scale awards night in London. Industry insiders say that such an event of this magnitude, featuring nearly 40 diverse acts, has never been staged in London by any Indian regional industry. The programme will include dance, music, stand-up comedy, and cultural heritage presentations, offering the world a rare glimpse into Odisha’s rich and often underrepresented legacy. Future plans also include Australia, New Zealand, and several Far East countries. With over 25 years of experience, he has executed more than 1,800 events globally, including exhibitions, conferences, product launches, award nights, and promotional campaigns. He has produced over 24 films, 312 Odia music videos, and multiple Hindi music projects, earning numerous awards for excellence and entrepreneurship.

Rahu Ketu, directed by Vipul Garg and starring Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma, opened on January 16, 2026, to a muted Rs 1 crore nett across India and an overall Hindi occupancy of just 6.9%. Morning shows were weakest (around 5%), edging up to 9–10% in evening and night slots. The film lagged behind fellow comedy Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos (Rs 1.25 crore opening) and faced stiff competition from holdovers such as Dhurandhar, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and The Raja Saab, which likely siphoned off potential viewers. Its premise was a magical notebook that brings two unlucky characters to life and sparks a chaotic chase involving a thief named Meenu Taxi and a drug mafia which created trailer interest but didn’t translate into ticket sales. Several factors help explain the weak start. The film’s broad, slapstick humour and conventional comedic tropes appear out of step with Gen Z preferences for sharper, more relatable, and often socially aware comedy; formats increasingly discovered via streaming and short-form platforms. Promotional efforts, including city tours and college visits, failed to generate viral momentum or sustained word-of-mouth necessary to pull younger audiences to theatres. The crowded release calendar, with multiple genres vying for attention, further diluted its reach, especially for a mid-budget film without major star power to anchor footfalls. Additionally, there was no clear cultural hook beyond a promising trailer to boost pre-release buzz. Economic headwinds and changing consumption habits also played a role: rising ticket prices and the convenience of home viewing make audiences more selective about theatre trips. In this environment, a light-hearted, formulaic comedy without a distinctive voice struggled to stand out—resulting in Rahu Ketu’s underwhelming opening.

Nearly two decades after the Singur agitation reshaped West Bengal politics, the fertile stretch in Hooghly district has re-emerged as a key electoral flashpoint. With the 2026 Assembly elections nearing, the BJP has revived the Singur narrative, promising the return of Tata Motors and large-scale industrialisation if voted to power. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, continues to project Singur as a landmark victory for farmers against forcible land acquisition. BJP leaders argue that Tata Motors’ exit in 2008 marked the onset of de-industrialisation and that only a change in government can restore investor confidence. The BJP has also contrasted West Bengal’s industrial trajectory with Gujarat’s rapid expansion, presenting the latter as a development model. The party sees Singur as a way to reach Left-leaning voters by emphasising employment and economic growth rather than identity politics alone. The TMC has countered by reiterating that the Singur movement centred on protecting cultivable land and farmers’ rights. It cites the Supreme Court verdict declaring the 2006 land acquisition illegal and ordering land to be returned to unwilling farmers, calling it both legal and moral vindication. The conflict began in 2006 when the Left Front government acquired nearly 1,000 acres for Tata’s Nano project. The decision sparked sustained protests led by Mamata Banerjee, including police action and a 21-day hunger strike. Amid escalating unrest, Tata Motors withdrew in 2008 and shifted the project to Sanand, Gujarat. The Singur and Nandigram agitations later became central to the TMC’s rise, ending 34 years of Left rule in 2011. At present, about 300 acres have been restored to cultivation. Farmers’ groups have demanded that another 300 acres be made arable, suggesting the rest could be considered for industry. As elections approach, Singur’s abandoned fields have again become a battleground of competing visions of development and memory.

Kartik Aaryan’s career exemplifies how quickly fortunes can shift. The actor, who rose to fame as a self-made outsider with no industry backing, recently faced backlash after his romantic comedy Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri produced by Karan Johar and co-starring Ananya Panday, bombed at the box office, earning just around Rs 50 crore in India despite a Rs 50 crore fee for Kartik. Critics and audiences panned the film for its lacklustre script, poor music, and limited screen allocation; competition from blockbusters like Dhurandhar and Avatar: Fire and Ash. Social media erupted with calls labelling him “overrated,” criticizing his repetitive expressions and dialogue delivery across genres. This downturn echoes Kartik’s past setbacks, including flops like Shehzada (2023), which prompted him to return part of his fee, and Chandu Champion (2024), which underperformed commercially despite earning him a Filmfare Best Actor award. Yet, he’s celebrated for revitalizing franchises with mega-hits like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (post-COVID blockbuster) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024), which grossed over Rs 250 crore and outdid rivals at Diwali. His defenders highlight his crowd-pulling power in rom-coms like SatyaPrem Ki Katha, which opened at Rs 9.25 crore despite minimal hype. Adding fuel to the fire, reports surfaced that Karan Johar’s talent agency, Dharma Cornerstone Agency, parted ways with Kartik just two months after signing him, amid the film’s failure, reviving memories of their 2021 fallout over Dostana 2, where Kartik was ousted for alleged unprofessionalism, leading to a temporary “ban” from Dharma. Though they reconciled in 2025. The treatment meted out to Kartik underscores the industry’s ruthlessness: one hit elevates you, one flop buries you—unless you’re a nepo product. Kartik’s upcoming slate, including Naagzilla (releasing August 2026 with Johar) and an Anurag Basu project, could redeem him, but this episode highlights Bollywood’s cutthroat nature, where talent...

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is running short on time to bring a conclusion to what can be described as “L’affaire Bangladesh” that has grabbed the attention of the global cricketing fraternity after the South Asian Country took a call not to play its ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup in India and request the world body to relocate its matches to Sri Lanka. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), took the extreme step soon after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) paid heed to the BCCI to release left arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad for the forthcoming IPL. The layman and the expert believe that the KKR — along with two more franchises — ought not to have made a bid for the Bangladesh player at the auction in Abu Dhabi knowing well that the bilateral tours between the two countries had come to an end because of certain unpleasant events happening in Bangladesh. As it transpired Rahman’s forced exit from the KKR squad turned out to be the trigger for BCB to shoot a letter to the ICC expressing security and safety concerns for its team in India. The ICC now has an independent chair, an Indian, in Jay Shah — son of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah — and an Indian CEO in Sanjog Gupta. With plenty on its plate already, especially with Pakistan not wanting to play in India, Shah and Gupta have their task cut out so to say. The ICC is not inclined to interfere with logistics at this stage wherein only three weeks are left for the first ball to be bowled. The BCB has been equally firm in its decision and the latest news is that an ICC delegation will travel to Dhaka to thrash out, if at all it can be, the sensitive matter.

Veteran leader Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray have been totally decimated in the election to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, raising a question mark about the next turn in their political journey. Just half a dozen of the civic bodies marked any presence of the parties led by the two prominent leaders, leaving the field open to the saffron outfit, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The other casualty is Pawar’s nephew Ajit, who took on the BJP for no obvious reason and has been mauled badly in his own stronghold, Pune city and district. A few select bodies like Kolhapur, Vasai-Virar, Malegaon, Chandrapur, Parbhani and Amaravati have shown electoral wins of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates, though most have been elected on their own steam. The MVA is now rudderless in the state and the voters, too, have expressed their displeasure on its negative campaigning, which was replete with abuse and curses. On the other hand, Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde continuously harped on the theme of development. The results have conclusively shown that Uddhav’s clout is now confined only to Mumbai, of course lesser than earlier. As far as Sharad Pawar is concerned, he neither campaigned nor addressed any rally. His inaction is blamed for the pitiable condition of his party. Thus, both leaders will have to explain to their cadres what plan of action is in their mind.

Tata Power’s additional security deposit (ACD) notices to consumers in Odisha has triggered massive outrage. The Odisha High Court has now asked Tata Power, Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission and state Energy Secretary to file a reply regarding ACD controversy and has given them two weeks’ time to reply. Clarifying via press conference Tata Power has said that the levy of Additional Security Deposit (ASD) on electricity bills, stating that the process is a statutory requirement mandated under the Electricity Act, 2003 and governed by regulations of the OERC. According to Tata Power, the framework governing Security Deposit and Additional Security Deposit (ASD) is neither new nor discretionary as this is in practice for decades it was implemented by erstwhile utilities such as CESU, NESCO SOUTHCO and WESCO in Odisha. The bone of contention seems to be the penalty slapped by Tata Power if ASD is not paid. In such cases a surcharge of 15% per annum is levied. The general feeling among consumers is that ASD should not be suddenly levied one fine morning. Consumers should be taken into confidence and enough notice be given. Incidentally all utilities do levy such charges. It happens in Mumbai and other places too. Public relations experts “There would not be such uproar had it been communicated. This is where their PR department comes to play.

Ill-famed Shrikant Pangarkar will henceforth be seen in the civic hall of Jalna Municipal Corporation despite being named as an accused in the 2017 killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh. The Jalna results were declared on Friday and Pangarkar emerged as the winner in Ward 13. He defeated his opponents of the BJP and other parties in a multi-corner contest. The Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde had chosen not to field any candidate in the ward, a decision that foretold the electoral outcome. Soon after the results, he began celebrating with his supporters. The images went viral, causing an outrage. The criminal case related to Lankesh’s murder is sub-judice, thus enabling Pangarkar to contest. Facing the media after this, Pangarkar asserted that he had not been convicted; hence, the legal process was still underway.” His defence nonplussed the reporters. The assassination of Gauri Lankesh took place in Bengaluru on 5 September 2017. The killing triggered a widespread debate across the country. In August 2018, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Pangarkar as an accused though was granted bail by the Karnataka high court on 4 September 2024. Earlier, Pangarkar had served as a corporator in Jalna between 2001 and 2006 as a member of the undivided Shiv Sena. However, as he was not given a ticket in 2011, he moved to the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, a right-wing organisation. Only a year before, while the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were to happen, Pangarkar joined the Shinde Sena. The move backfired and Shinde had to keep in abeyance Pangarkar’s entry. Despite that interlude, Pangarkar is back in the news.

A section of the Tamil Nadu BJP leadership is completely disappointed with the line-up of people arranged by Union Minister L Murugan for Pongal festivities organised at his residence and presided over by PM Modi. While it might all be very well for Murugan, who is Minister of State for I&B, to flaunt the presence of makers and cast and crew of the DMK-backed film Parasakthi, some BJP leaders were not comfortable with the presence of producer Akash Baskaran. He is related to late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and his late first son MK Muthu. His wife Dharini is MK Muthu’s granddaughter. Her dad is CK Ranganthan who owns Cavinkare. Her mother is Thenmozhi, Kalignar Karunanidhi’s granddaughter. The issue with Akash Bhaskaran’s presence at PM Modi’s event was that he had briefly figured in the TASMAC scam probe. Of course, the ED had to apologise to Bhaskaran as directed by the Madras High Court. Some TN BJP leaders feel a section of party leaders are always hell bent on bringing “not very desirable characters” into the party and thereby putting off genuine voters. Incidentally, neither PM Modi nor Murugan shared any pics of their interaction with Parasakthi actors on their timeline. It was done by the National Award-winning composer GV Prakash to share a photograph of his interaction with PM Modi as well as reveal the presence of Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan. Prakash also performed a track from his Tamil pride album Thiruvasagam for the first time at the event. Meanwhile, it is being said the real problem with TVK leader Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, one hears, is that the protagonist is seen making a direct pitch against “political leadership” that it is communalising politics. Two, he is also seen speaking against “atma nirbhar bharat”. If the Congress has issues with Parasakthi because it is critical of Indira Gandhi, Jana Nayagan has clearly irked powers that be in Delhi.

Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai may be bristling at MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s “rasmalai” jibe at him and may have even dared the MNS leader to break his legs when he visits Mumbai next. While it may be all very well for the cop-turned-politician not to be afraid of Thackeray’s empty boasts, not many in Maharashtra BJP leadership are happy with Annamalai’s foot-in-the-mouth utterances. In fact questions are being asked about the need to even call Annamalai for canvassing  for BMC polls. That too at a time when the civic polls seemed nicely tied in ruling Mahayuti’s favour. “What was the need to ask Annamalai to campaign? This is a needless controversy. Annamalai has turned the media attention on himself. In any case we have very small pockets of influence of Tamil voters, whom we have been regularly reaching out to. Annamalai’s utterances on Mumbai have only been twisted to give an issue to the Opposition,” says a senior BJP leader. The only saving grace is that ahead of the civic polls the local media did not play up Annamalai’s comment. Mumbai as Maharashtra’s capital is an emotive issue and anyone familiar with its socio-politics will not even not go anywhere near this topic. He had said Mumbai, apart from being Maharashtra capital, is also an international city. In an interview to a Marathi TV channel, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that there was no need to take the Tamil leader seriously. He suggested that Annamalai was making an effort to communicate in his limited knowledge of Hindi. “It wasn’t as if the PM had spoken. Mumbai is an international city.” As for Raj Thackeray calling Annamalai a “rasmalai”, Fadnavis was dismissive of the MNS leader and felt he couldn’t be taken seriously.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee once again placed confrontation at the centre of her politics on January 8, when she entered the residence of political strategist Pratik Jain just as the Enforcement Directorate began a search. Jain is the director of I-PAC, the political consultancy that has advised the TMC since 2021 and is widely credited with playing a key role in the party’s landslide Assembly victory that year. According to Mamata, the agency’s objective was not law enforcement but the seizure of confidential TMC poll material, including candidate lists, campaign strategy documents, SIR-related papers and electronic data. The episode reinforced an image Banerjee has cultivated over decades as a political “street fighter”. Supporters point to her early days as a Youth Congress worker protesting against Jayaprakash Narayan, her emergence as a “giant-killer” after defeating Left heavyweight Somnath Chatterjee in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, and decades of street battles against the Left that culminated in the Singur and Nandigram movements and the fall of the 34-year Left Front government in 2011. Senior TMC insiders cite precedents where confrontation brought political dividends: her February 3, 2019 dharna after a CBI raid on then police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Saradha scam case; her February 23, 2021 confrontation with a CBI team probing a coal smuggling case involving Abhishek Banerjee and his wife; and her May 17, 2021 six-hour stay at the CBI office as several TMC leaders were arrested in the Narada sting operation case. Leaders argue such confrontations help counter anti-incumbency, mask internal factional rifts and deflect attention from economic management and alleged scams. As elections approach, Didi has returned to the mode that has long defined her career: fighting her battles on the street.

Is the three-match one-day international series against New Zealand played in India worth the while? The same question was asked during the previous three-match series against South Africa. The discerning and the layman, not acquainted with ‘cricketnomics’, may be somewhat puzzled by the scheduling of the itineraries drawn by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). But the fact is that the BCCI closed its global media rights for September 2023-March 2028 at Rs 5963 crore with a commitment to the broadcaster a certain number of Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 internationals over a period of five home seasons. Viacom18 won the e-auction at Rs 3101 crore for digital and Rs 2862 crore for television. The average per match works out to Rs 67.76 crore. So the BCCI needed to work out an 88 match Future Tour Programmes (FTP) to encash its five-season agreement with Viacom 18. While the BCCI will receive money from the broadcaster, these matches also help the national selection committee to identify players and prepare the Indian team for next year’s ICC World Cup to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The ongoing series against New Zealand is of particular interest because it has put the focus back on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli who are in the running for spots in the World Cup men in blue team. This is the only format the two giants of ODI cricket have chosen to play — they have retired from Test and Twenty20 cricket — and everyone has used the catchphrase “RoKo” to market the series which may not have really caught the imagination of the fans. Going back to the point of the need for an ODi series, it goes without saying that the media rights agreement has to be met with by the BCCI.

Tamil Nadu is experiencing a churning of this magnitude for the first time after MGR decoupled his political star with Kalaignar (his mentor and launch pad). The state was shaken, stirred and saturated with the rise of a new hope, an actor legend…a film super star pole vaulting into politics, with his unique generosity and charisma. MGR’s magic and the launch of his AIADMK, followed by the long years of dominance by his protégée J Jayalalithaa is still talked about. Shivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan tried but failed. Vijayakanth did make inroads while Rajinikanth very nearly entered it but backed off at the last moment. This is why everybody is keenly watching the entry of Vijay. He seems to have created some impact going by the huge attendance to his rallies. He has pitched himself and his party TVK as an alternative to DMK and this seems to have shaken the complacence of the DMK’s heir apparent …Udhayanidhi Stalin, another film star who basks in his entitlement. Is this jump from films to power as easy as it seems? Not really as Vijay is finding out. The Karur tragedy, roadblocks of the jittery opposition, the extreme challenges in releasing his swan song Jana Nayagan has hit hard but not shaken his confidence. His farewell film has run into trouble with Censor, then followed court cases as a resulted it will not be released during the Pongal festival. Will the late release work in his favour? Heads or tails, Vijay would have made his mark.

Ever since Chandrababu Naidu took over as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, the state is attracting big ticket investments from domestic and global players. The latest to enter the state is the Tata Group. The Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) has decided to invest Rs 6,675 crore in Andhra Pradesh to set up India’s largest Ingot-Wafer facility at Nellore. Earlier, Tata Power was toying with the idea of setting it up in Odisha. May be Naidu’s sops and incentives worked. The ingots and wafers to be produced at Nellore facility are critical inputs for solar cells, modules and semiconductor application which would reduce import dependents for strategic components. As part of its clean energy commitment, TPREL will also establish a 200 MW captive green power plant to supply renewable energy to its Andhra facility. It is learnt that this is not the first project Odisha has lost to it neighbour Andhra. Corporate analysts talk about how the UK-based Semiconductor group SRAM & MRAM which had plans to invest Rs 30,000 crore in Odisha initially switched over to Andhra Pradesh. Likewise, even JSW EV retracted its decision to invest in Odisha and opted for Maharashtra. Arcelor Mittal which had plans to set up green field steel plant in Odisha has now decided to move to neighbouring Andhra. Looks like the business both local and global are comfortable in dealing with Chandrababu Naidu. So be it Google, Reliance, Adani, Hinduja’s, Arcelor Mittal and now Tatas seem to be reposing confidence on Chandrababu Naidu’s proactive governance style and deliverables.

A cursory glance at the profile of various candidates trying their luck in the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra presents an interesting insight into their education, assets and property, their past and the party they belong to. The data reflects not just static wealth, but growth over election cycles. Under election law, candidates declare their movable and immovable assets, liabilities, education and if there are any criminal cases against them at the time of nomination. These details are made public. Hopefully, the voters will make their own assessment at the time of voting on 15 January 2026 across 29 municipal corporations throughout the state. A quick scan shows that in Nagpur, candidate asset declarations range from Rs 7.78 lakh to nearly Rs 95 crore. In Mumbai, former mayor Kishori Pednekar has declared a fantastic rise in her assets since the last civic election in 2017. It was Rs 1.61 crore in 2017, now touching Rs 5.26 crore. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s trusted soldier Sada Sarvankar’s son Samadhan has declared assets worth Rs 46.59 crore, one of the highest among BMC candidates. He is matched by former mayor Shraddha Jadhav of Shiv Sena (UBT), whose assets exceed Rs 46 crore, as well. The most common denominator about the candidates is that all of them are keen to serve the public.

Nominations in the ongoing municipal corporation polls in Maharashtra reveal interesting details and expectedly, those vying to enter the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the richest civic body, attract maximum attention. They are found across all parties and election wards. For instance, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s trusted soldier Sada Sarvankar’s son Samadhan has declared assets worth Rs 46.59 crore, one of the highest among BMC candidates. He is matched by former mayor Shraddha Jadhav of Shiv Sena (UBT), whose assets exceed Rs 46 crore as well. The astounding increase is over the 8 years, when the last BMC election was held in 2017. In Mumbai, most candidates possess multiple of crores, which include real estate, posh vehicles and gold or jewellery. They are spread across all major parties. Another facet is that female candidates are as wealthy as their male counterparts, in some cases even more. A few notables include former mayor Vishakha Sharad Raut (Ward No 191 Sena UBT). Her total assets stood at Rs 21.83 crore. The Increase over 2017 is Rs.7 crore. Former MLA Yamini Jadhav (Ward No. 209 Sena Shinde) shows total assets of Rs.14.57 crore. The increase is Rs 4 crore in just one year. Former MP Kirit Somaiya’s son Neel (Ward No. 107 BJP) has total assets of Rs 9 crore. In his case, the increase is of Rs 7 crore over 8 years. A recent entrant into the BJP, Tejaswi Abhishek Ghosalkar (Ward No. 2) has total assets worth Rs 5 crore, showing an increase of Rs 4.75 crore over the past 8 years. Veteran corporator Shailesh Phanse has declared assets worth Rs 25 crore (Ward 59 Sena UBT), showing a spectacular increase of Rs 16 crore over 8 years. In short, more candidates are well provided for than those lacking resources.

Is the Censor delay for Vijay’s film all aimed to strengthen the TVK chief’s support base and ensure its a superhit? Is the BJP-led Centre actually helping the superstar? As Vijay is facing an uphill task to get his last film Jana Nayagan released on Jan 9 and the Tamil Nadu Congress leaders are already blaming the Home Minister Amit Shah for it. A perception is growing in TN that the BJP is not obstructing the screening of the film but perhaps doing it all to increase his popularity among youth and women. It is being said the whole idea is to ensure that sizable votes of youth and women could now consolidate behind Vijay — that is to move away from the DMK. A strong TVK is bound to weaken the DMK. It is believed a three-way fight in TN will benefit the challenger AIADMK-BJP. Jana Nayagan was postponed two days before release due to a censor certificate delay.  While a Madras HC hearing is expected to pave way for its release next week, there is a growing view that Jana Nayagan’s Censor problems were clearly linked to Vijay’s political dalliances with the Congress — Rahul Gandhi had spoken to him post Karur incident. It is in this backdrop that top Congress leaders from AICC in charge Girish Chodankar to Tamil Nadu MPs — Manickam Tagore and Jothimani attacked the Centre for withholding Censor certificate for Vijay’s film. TN Congress sources however feel Vijay may not eventually take up Congress offer of an alliance. “Vijay may finally end up with the AIADMK-BJP.  Everyone in TN is heading that way. The DMK will also not take us on board,” pointed out a TN Congress leader.