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Ex-IPS officer, former Mumbai police commissioner, Prambir Singh’s name still spells controversy, and now, Singh stands accused of attempts to extort junior consulting doctors at Bandra based super-specialty hospital – Lilavati — by offering posts of senior consulting doctors for cash before it stood exposed. Subsequently, the hospital management issued show-cause notices to its CFO, VP (supply chain) among others who promptly resigned over an alleged Rs 100 crore scam, as per a written complaint filed before Bandra police station. Only two days back Singh’s latest collusion with the erstwhile top management came to light when audit, stock taking revealed that Rs 46 crore was paid for purchasing medicines over last year for hospital although the medicines remain as yet untraced, unaccounted for. Latest instance of Singh’s brazenness being cited relates to planting fake news-media articles claiming an illusory ‘interim relief” accorded by the Bombay High Court. Twin board room resolutions passed by trustees of Rs 800 crore Lilavati super-specialty Hospital Trust on February 16, 2026 against permanent trustee Rajesh Mehta sought to be challenged by HC by Mehta allegedly Singh’s accomplices in the scam. While the headline of a English daily blared “Bombay HC Grants Interim Relief to Rajesh Mehta in Lilavati Trust Row”, the court of Justice Milind N Jadhav had actually only issued notice to trust to respond to averments by Rajesh Mehta and posted matter for replies from the trust based on the field praecipe by Mehta and “For Directions” thereafter come February 25, 2026.
Bhiwandi near Mumbai is a communally sensitive town. It has been in the news after the recent civic election in Bhiwandi had dispensed a mixed mandate and political permutations and combinations were cooking for the past few days. Ultimately, the BJP has turned out to be the loser in the mayoral election, which it lost miserably. Interestingly, there is no communal angle to this contest but the loss is due to the power play between the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde), the two main partners of the ruling Mahayuti in the state. As neither party was ready to relent, BJP’s Narayan Choudhary deserted it and teamed up with Bhiwandi Secular Front, which is opposing the saffron forces. The cause of this decision was that he was refused mayoral candidate by the BJP, which fielded Sneha Patil. An angry Chaudhary was supported by six BJP rebels, 30 Congress members and 12 of the NCP(SP). His tally of 48 against Patil’s 16 has shown the BJP in poor light since it failed to woo former mayor Vilas Patil, whose Konark Front won 25 votes, a dozen from the Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Thus, failure to forge a strategic alliance has cost Mahayuti an important municipal corporation in Maharashtra. Moreover, the Congress is in a celebratory mood for humbling the BJP, which has threatened to take stern action against the rebels. Congress corporator Tariq Momin has been elected deputy mayor with a comfortable majority.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Bengal unit, grappling with an existential crisis, has been rocked by fresh turbulence after senior state committee member and former Lok Sabha candidate Pratik Ur Rahaman launched a sharp attack on the leadership, alleging favouritism and lobbying at the behest of state secretary Mohammad Salim. Terming it a “triple talaq” given by the CPI(M), Rahaman — the party’s Diamond Harbour candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and a new-generation leader promoted by the Politburo — resigned and gave up his membership. He has declined an invitation from veteran leader and Left Front chairman Biman Bose to attend a meeting at the party’s Alimuddin Street headquarters after accusing a section of leaking internal communications. On speculation about a switch to the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, Rahaman remained circumspect. Insiders say Bose attempted to defuse tensions, but Rahaman has grown disillusioned, holding Salim responsible for sidelining younger leaders. A section has voiced concern that emerging student and youth leaders are being marginalised, with the state unit seen as divided between factions under Salim and senior State Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty, who is eyeing Politburo membership and eventually the state secretary’s post. Rahaman has conveyed to close associates that repeated attempts to raise organisational issues went unheeded, hinting at “influential” leaders shielding aides. Though sections favour retaining him as a young minority face ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, his absence from the two-day state committee meeting beginning Thursday has intensified speculation of an imminent break. A direct face-off has emerged between Rahaman and Shatarup Ghosh. Without naming him, Rahaman earlier targeted Ghosh, who acknowledged Rahaman’s competence but said he is “everyone’s favourite”. Political circles report Rahaman has met a Trinamool MP in Kolkata about possible induction into the party.
The present party strength is such in the Maharashtra legislative assembly that the combined opposition can elect just one candidate to go to the Rajya Sabha. While NCP leader Sharad Pawar at 85 is still likely to be in the ring, the Congress and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray have indicated that they are not too enthusiastic about the prospect. In the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, which is the electorate, the ruling BJP has 132 members. It is supported by the Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s 57 and the NCP faction under deputy CM Sunetra Pawar’s 40. Thus, the ruling Mahyuti has about 220 MLAs on its side. On the other hand, the three major opposition parties have a joint strength of under 50. There are a handful of independents, too. Thus, the winning quota to enter the Rajya Sabha is of around 40 votes. Hence, it is barely sufficient for the Opposition to win one seat. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress are wary of standing by Sharad Pawar since they are afraid that he and his daughter Supriya Sule, MP, can switch over to the BJP or NDA at any moment. As of now, behind the door confabulations are gaining speed. Other notables who are retiring include RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, former Union minister Bhagwat Karad and Sena (UBT) Priyanka Chaturvedi. Their Rajya Sabha term ends on 2 April 2026.
The Bengal Pradesh Congress has decided to contest the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly elections independently, ending nearly a decade of electoral coordination with the Left. Since the 2016 state polls, Congress and the CPI(M) had worked in tandem in a bid to challenge chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party – TMC. That partnership, however, failed to yield significant gains, culminating in a washout for both sides in 2021 when neither secured a single seat. Party leaders say the decision to go solo is aimed at rebuilding the organisation in a state where Congress has not governed on its own since the Left Front came to power in 1977 under the CPI (M). Strategists argue that fighting alone may help the party reclaim political space and prepare for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The move also reflects an effort to disrupt the entrenched TMC-versus-BJP narrative that has dominated Bengal politics since 2019. Questions persist over whether Congress possesses the organisational depth and resources to field candidates across all 294 constituencies. Its limited booth-level presence during the Election Commission’s voter roll revision exercise has raised concerns internally about campaign preparedness. In traditional strongholds such as Murshidabad and Malda, once associated with leaders like A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the party is attempting to regain lost ground. The recent return of former TMC MP Mausam Benazir Noor to Congress has provided a morale boost. Political observers suggest that as the CPI(M) works to assemble a broader front excluding both the TMC and the BJP. The Congress opting out of alliance with CPI(M) will lead to fragmented opposition that could ultimately benefit the ruling TMC.
With four Odisha Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant, political buzz in Odisha has intensified. BJD and BJP are now locked in a tough fight ahead with heavy lobbying for the four Rajya Sabha seats. The main issue is which party will win how many seats and which candidates will be Naveen Patnaik’s final choice as nominations are slated to be closing on March 5,2026 and March 16 being the deadline for Rajya Sabha voting results. BJD leadership is expected to make a decision on their official nominee for the 2026 election. According to a political analyst, BJP is likely to win two seats and BJD one seat, while none of the parties have the numbers to secure the fourth seat as yet. For the fourth Rajya Sabha seat, speculation is rife that both BJD and BJP may go in for consensus candidate — an eminent Odia personality. Sources say that former corporate honcho turned BJD politician Santrupt Mishra believed to be close to Naveen babu could be one of the dark horses. His suave corporate personality, excellent communication skill and being a team player could inspire confidence with BJD supremo to give him a ticket. The only problem he faces is that some BJD leaders are now pushing for time tested experienced BJD leaders for Naveen’s consideration, putting a road block for inexperienced newcomers. The other name doing the rounds is that of Sujata R Karthikeyan, ex-IAS, former Mission Shakti Chief of BJD’s powerful women wing and wife of Patnaik’s man Friday VK Pandian. This is because Patnaik trusts the Pandians totally. All in all, the political situation is fluid today. For the fourth seat both BJP and BJD will need to come to an understanding as Congress has only 14 MLAs.
India will ignore (Twenty20) at its own peril was the loaded observation by batting maestro and legend Sunil Gavaskar at the prize distribution function of the 2006-07 BCCI’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament at the Brabourne Stadium. The BCCI was reluctant then, but after nearly two decades it has been proved that Twenty20 has become the heartbeat of many cricket playing countries with the shortest format providing all the thrills and frills and entertainment aligned with skill packed in a span of a little over three hours. India, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni went on to win the inaugural World Cup in that format defeating Pakistan in the final at Durban. Two years ago Rohit Sharma steered another Indian team to win the ICC event for the second time at Bridgetown and now another team with Suryakumar Yadav as captain has presented itself an opportunity to vie for the title a third time. A few days ago the Indian team got past Pakistan in Colombo and entered the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and it will face South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies for a place in the semi-final in Mumbai. Yadav’s team, the discerning believe, has the wherewithal to go the distance, but it’s a format the roll of the dice on all counts has to fall in its favour. Yadav has a fantastic winning percentage taking over captaincy from Rohit Sharma. The focus will be on him and his team girding up its loins for a shot at the title, but it must be said after so many years that Gavaskar had hit the nail on its head 19 years ago and most importantly the BCCI did not ignore it!
Super star Rajinikanth had much to appreciate in daughter Soundarya’s February release, With Love. The film’s 10-day run proved that his delight in seeing the movie was not just paternal love. Soundarya’s Zion Films and MRP Entertainments have struck gold with this Rs 5 crore budget film; it has earned 19 crore in India, and Rs 23 crore worldwide in just 10 days. What made With Love such a heart-warming family entertainer? Remember King Cole’s unforgettable number Love is a Many Splendored Thing! This Valentine month’s offering did not have to try hard or pitch with glamour, action and steamy scenes. The debut hero, Abhishan Jeevinth is still recovering from the fame he cornered directing Tourist Family. He made a mark with love and his unknown co-star Anaswara Rajan, their quietly unfolding romance playing out to Sean Rolden’smusic…already the song Edukkuthan Intha kadhal (why this love), turning into a love anthem for the young. Debut director Madhan has literally unfolded his story like opening the fragile petals of a lotus…a blind date and how the duo discover that they vibe beautifully and turn their stranger’s status to love. Kollywood is on an innovation yet cost cutting run…make films that don’t make a pauper of the stakeholders, films that appeal to your entertainment need, yet leave a lasting impression, With Love. Has Kollywood finally found a film formula to get audiences again to cinemas? It seems so when huge budgets and dud films hurt. We hear you … .Superstar’s per film salary could make many such films …but then he is the one of a kind Rajinikanth.
India’s political landscape has seen many influential Godmen who have masterminded alliances and election outcomes. Isha Yoga presided by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev is the current magnetic epicentre for many such influencer events. There is a belief that among all Gods in the pantheon, Lord Shiva is most easily pleased to grant wishes and bestow boons. The Shivratri celebrations at Coimbatore bring multitudes of political, filmi, intellectual and religious devotees who are drawn to Sadguru’s cool dancing and electric presence. This Shivratri had BJP’s Rajnath Singh, AIADMK’s S PVelumani, the elusive Premalatha (DMDK president), and hold your breath, Shobha Chandrasekhar, mother of Vijay converging at Isha. It is well known that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh usually leaves party strategy to Amit Shah. But the presence of two politically significant ladies raised surmises sky high. Premalatha who had kept all guessing about her choice of alliance tried to play down her Isha attendance. Premalatha, wife of late Vijaykanth who founded DMDK, had come to mediate and seek Divine wisdom for almost three years. But it just so happened that her accommodation at Isha was in the same block as Rajnath Singh’s. Premalatha meditated and prayed to Adi Yogi and the Shiva Ling…perhaps her intense devotion gave her the inspiration …to choose the BJP alliance, a move much welcomed by all the other parties that had chosen this block. But why had Vijay’s mother sought divine inspiration and guidance at Sadguru’s ashram? Kite fliers and media Astros are saying …in case Vijay is pushed too hard, he needs a fail-safe fall back. Godmen have honed brokering skills to an art form. Maha Shivratri was spent in intense soul sharing art form one presumes.
Odisha government led by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi is now taking giant strides in the Artificial Intelligence space. The Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI led by CEO Pratyush Kumar and co-founder Vivek Raghavan have signed a MoU with the Odisha government to establish a $ 2.3 billion (approx Rs 20,000 crore) Sovereign AI Hub in the state that will create 5,000 jobs. The uniqueness of Sarvam is they can do what Chat GPT can’t do. It will provide AI solutions that understand India’s unique linguistic diversity, handling code-switching (blending languages like Hindi and English), regional accents, and cultural nuances better than global models, with key products like Sarvam Vision for document intelligence and Bulbul for text-to-speech. This explains why Sarvam has been selected under the India AI mission having data residency in India. Its immediate objective seems to be: One, make Odisha one of India’s AI hub wherein it becomes the net producer, exporter of trainers to other states. Two, Odisha will have the advantage to train and deploy similar AI models in other Indian languages when it gets rolled out in other states eventually. Odisha government sources say this project will serve as a national model for AI deployment eventually. What seems certain is that BJP-led Odisha government is now determined to make Odisha a success story in artificial intelligence space.
This Diwali has exposed a striking contrast: Tamil cinema is enjoying a creative and commercial upswing while Bollywood offers a muted, formula-driven lineup. Two Tamil releases—Dude and Bison, both out on October 17, have captured audience attention. Dude, a breezy romantic comedy infused with local masala, opened strongly, while Bison, a sports drama from veteran director Mari Selvaraj, earned glowing reviews and solid opening numbers thanks to powerful storytelling and word-of-mouth. These films feel rooted, fresh and connected to contemporary audiences, especially younger and family viewers who respond to authenticity and strong narratives. By contrast, the Bollywood slate releasing mid-week on October 21 looks underwhelming. Thamma (an Ayushmann Khurrana horror-comedy) and Ek Deewane Ki Deewani (starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa) are competent but lack the novelty and scale we normally associate with Diwali. With neither superstar-driven star power nor bold thematic risks, these mid-budget releases lean on familiar formulas rather than offering new cinematic experiences. Historically, Diwali has been the domain of spectacle—big stars, family entertainers and larger-than-life marketing—but this year Bollywood’s offerings fall short of those expectations. The difference comes down to ambition and audience connection. Tamil films are taking creative risks, genre blends, culturally specific stories and directors with distinct voices, resulting in stronger word-of-mouth and sustained interest. Bollywood’s conservative programming this festive season suggests risk aversion and reliance on safe templates, which may cost it market share as regional films continue to raise the bar.
The Odisha government has finally enforced a “no gift” policy this Diwali festival in state undertakings and government offices. This includes purchase of gift items, their distribution among officials, and the acceptance of presents. Call it an austerity drive… curbing non-essential spending. Simply put, the Central government wants to ensure prudent use of public money. It has given stern warning to the states not to give Diwali gifts with public money henceforth. It seems the Odisha government is complying to the finance ministry’s directive which had issued an office memorandum to all central ministries, state governments, departments including PSU enterprises banning the use of public funds for festive gifts. In doing this the government intends to bring in fiscal discipline and curbing non-essential spending. The respective departments have now been asked to monitor adherence to the policy and ensure that no violations occur. Odisha’s deputy chief minister Pravati Parida has already communicated the government policy on social media and has requested citizens and visitors not to bring gifts to her office. The Odisha government has declared a two-day holiday on October 20-21 for Diwali across the state for Diwali festival except those who are engaged by the poll bound Nuapada district. However, the government officers will have to work on October 25 which is a fourth Saturday. Many feel this gifting culture should stop as costly Diwali gifts are given by people to decision makers to gain favours. According to a report by EY, a reputed global consultancy firm, there is a need for serious action as the increasing value of Diwali gifts, day by day, can turn out to be a tool of favouritism; please the person in the decision-makers seat.
In the emerging geopolitical context, the focus is increasingly on self-reliance. Not surprisingly, the business strategy of many revolves around this. This one too is no exception. Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI), a part of the Murugappa Group, is gearing up for a major expansion in its defence and aerospace vertical. The company plans to establish a new manufacturing facility at Hosur in Tamil Nadu to produce approximately 150 tonnes of silicon carbide ceramics annually, primarily for use in armour applications. The Hosur plant will also manufacture ceramic armour of different grades, including alumina, silicon carbide and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA).“Hosur will be a key hub for us as it is also the nodal point of the Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor,” said Subbu Venkatachalam, Head – Aerospace and Defence, CUMI. “We aim to strengthen India’s local ecosystem in advanced materials and build lighter, safer and high-performance armour systems for the armed forces.” The new facility aligns with CUMI’s long-term plan to increase the capacity and range of its ceramic solutions for defence, while also deepening indigenisation in critical material production. The company currently produces raw materials such as alumina and silicon carbide in Kerala, which are then processed into ceramic armour components in Tamil Nadu. CUMI is also working towards achieving the STANAG Level 6 certification, the highest global benchmark for armour protection. The company’s R&D efforts are focused on developing newer materials and smart ceramics that can enhance protection without adding weight. With this expansion, CUMI aims to play a larger role in India’s defence supply chain and contribute to the country’s self-reliance in high-performance.
The reputed housekeeping giant, BVG Group, is finding itself in the eye of a storm following its distribution of chicken masala packets as Diwali gifts to employees at the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur, the most important pilgrimage sanctum sanctorum for innumerable devotees. While the BVG management is yet to come out with a response, the Vitthal temple authorities have condemned the act and indicated that reviewing the vendor contract is an option for them. BVG India Ltd is a large integrated facility management company. Founded in 1993 by struggler Hanmantrao Ramdas Gaikwad, it has grown from a social enterprise to become India’s largest company in its field. It provides services such as solid waste management, emergency response and renewable energy solutions. BVG serves a wide range of sectors including government, metro rail, IT and has a trained workforce of over 100,000. BVG also provides staff for the Vitthal temple. The personnel received chicken masala packets as Diwali gifts. This triggered off a wave of anger because the Warkari sect is strictly vegetarian. Hence a non-vegetarian gift appeared as an assault on religious sentiments. was seen as a religious trespass. Minister for Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident. The temple’s executive officer Rajendra Shelke has served a legal notice against the firm. He took preventive steps as soon as the outrage became known. Similarly, the firm stopped the distribution of the offending packets. Shelke insisted that the temple’s sanctity is the foremost and it is everybody’s sacred duty to preserve it.
Tamil Nadu’s Deepavali is not just about new clothes, sweets and crackers…a new film is a must to add to the festivities. Producers work overtime to ensure the movies are released during Deepavali. This year’s festival releases are three unusually titled films …Dude, Diesel and Bison. October 17 was truly a red-letter day for young Dhruv Vikram, veteran actor Vikram’s son. Coincidentally, Vikram’s first film too was released on October 17. Mari Selvaraj, the King creator of down-to-earth compelling movies like Pari Yerum Perumal, Karnan, Mamannan and Vazhai has again focussed on societal inequalities and caste-based exploitation …Bison is centered on Kabaddi, based on the true life Arjuna Award winner Manathi Ganesan. Selvaraj’s Bison not just holds up a clear mirror to the oppression of the underprivileged…he scores with real life depiction of a player tunnelling his way up in this caste overwhelmed social morass that makes the privileged sit up and take note …not just feel guilty about their conferred birth, but in some ways wanting to right these wrongs to bring more equity to the underdog. Kollywood is fortunate to have a clutch of prescient and compelling creators — directors, producers, script writers who remain faithful to ideologies of social inequality and in some way raise the awareness through their artistic craft of storytelling. Weaving the politics of TN into his hard-hitting film, Selvaraj builds Bison as the angry but aspirational archetype of an oppressed young man, determined to win. Even sports are not out of the clutch of caste oppression.
Maharashtra intends to transfer about 50 leopards to private wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre Vantara, established by Ambani’s Reliance Foundation. Most of these leopards are from the Manikdoh Leopard rescue centre, where leopards involved in human-animal conflicts from around the sugar belt of Junnar region near Pune are rescued and kept. Forest department officials view the emergence of the private forest like Vantara as a huge relief and see this transfer as a win-win solution for its rising cases of man-animal conflicts. “We have more than 100 leopards and about 40 tigers in our various rescue centres across the state. Currently our rescue facilities are already saturated and we are finding it difficult to handle more animals that need to be necessarily rescued from conflict situations including injured animals that need to be treated, says Jitendra Ramgaokar, chief conservator of forests (wildlife). Shifting some leopards over to Vantara, not only frees up space at government facilities but helps them accept animals that are rescued from emergency situations. Also, unlike tigers which are much sought after by various zoos across the country, there are few takers for leopards. Maharashtra’s leopard population has risen from 1690 in 2018 to 1985 in 2022 – – leading to increasing instances of man-animal conflicts. Between Jan 2024-Feb 2025, about 61 persons were killed and 648 injured in wild animal attacks in Maharashtra thus leading to public uproar. The state also intends to increase capacity of its leopard rescue centres and has initiated programs like reproductive control of leopards and even setting up AI-based alert systems, installing solar fencing and taking up awareness campaigns in high-risk villages. A similar strategy is also being considered for tigers, which has increased from 101 in 2020 to 444 in 2022.
No need to go to the auditorium to watch Soumitra Chatterjee’s plays. One Theater, India’s first theatre-focused OTT platform is bringing over 300 plays from Bengal’s rich dramatic heritage directly to viewers’ screens. Developed by ESI BPL Group and Banglamanch under G-TPL, the platform aims to unite theatre groups from every corner of the state, offering audiences a single, seamless digital stage. Organisers said that One Theater is more than entertainment — rather a bold step to preserve and celebrate Bengali theatre for generations to come. A highlight of the app is a dedicated archive of late legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee’s theatrical works, allowing audiences to experience his timeless performances. The inaugural lineup features productions that span themes from human relationships to nostalgia and moral dilemmas. Typist, directed by Soumitra Chatterjee’s daughter Poulomi delves into the subtleties of office life and romantic undercurrents, featuring veteran theatre personality Debshankar Haldar and Poulomi Chatterjee. Mitali, directed by another theatre veteran Gautam Haldar, captures the tender story of teenage love in the era of handwritten letters, long before the digital age. Meanwhile, Chandanpur-er Chor, another Shyambazar Mukhomukhi production, blends humour and humanism as three thieves enter an elderly woman’s home, confronting ethical dilemmas, with performances by Rajatab Dutta, Shankar Chakraborty, Deblina Dutta, Pritha Majumdar, Saurav Kar, and a talented ensemble of young actors. The founders of One Theater envision the platform as more than a streaming service—it is a living archive, a cultural bridge, and a digital window into Bengal’s theatrical soul. They hope this initiative will bring Bengali theatre back to the national and international spotlight, ensuring that its stories continue to resonate across generations.
U.S. President Donald Trump finds himself in the midst of the ongoing controversy about electoral rolls in Maharashtra. As the state’s Opposition with allied parties demanded revised scrutiny and verification of electoral rolls before the upcoming local self-government elections, alleging glaring errors and ascribing it to access by politically connected third party agencies, they found Trump could help drive home their point well. NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar, nephew of Sharad Pawar displayed an Aadhaar card in Donald Trump’s name alleging how legislative constituencies had witnessed more than 30,000 outsiders in many electoral constituencies in the recent 2024 assembly elections after illegal entries in rolls. These allegations come in the wake of open admission at a Dharashiv public meeting by an Eknath Shinde legislator Vilas Bhumre that getting 20,000 migrant voters to vote for him had got him the winning edge in his election. Persistent Opposition allegations range from large-scale illegal entries bearing the same address, of names disappearing from electoral rolls within hours of errors being pointed out, of ruling BJP workers having third party access to electoral rolls and thus enjoying an unfavourable edge in polls. Former finance minister Jayant Patil pointed out how an erroneous entry disappeared from online rolls at 6 pm, within three hours of it being detected and pointed out. Not surprisingly, the Opposition has been insisting on no local polls till the rolls are corrected and even challenging to take polls on ballot papers.
Followers of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde have started clashing openly over the proposed seat sharing for the coming local body elections in Thane despite assurances by both leaders that they will fight the polls jointly under the Mahayuti banner. A stronghold of the saffron forces for a long time, Thane has occasionally proved to be the bone of contention between the BJP and the Shiv Sena even when Balasaheb Thackeray and Pramod Mahajan were alive. However, the differences would vanish once a directive was received from above for both camps. That camaraderie has evaporated after the emergence of Shinde as a power centre. The BJP has asked its powerful leader Ganesh Naik to ‘look after’ Thane while Shinde’s Man Friday Naresh Mhaske, Thane MP, is in the vanguard of the Sena (Shinde) campaign. Thane city’s MLA Sanjay Kelkar of the BJP has repeatedly warned the Sena of a serious fallout if his demand for 70 seats in the civic house of over 130 is not honoured. On the other hand, Mhaske is firm on his stand that his party must get at least 80 seats. While Fadnavis has made it clear that winning the election for the Mahayuti is crucial, Shinde is yet to shed his reticence. Surprisingly, the INDIA Bloc is yet to spell out its plans for the third most important municipal corporation in Maharashtra, after Mumbai and Pune.
BJP’s aggressive MLA Gopichand Padalkar has once again stirred a hornet’s nest by asking Hindu girls not to go to gyms. Addressing a public rally in Beed, Padalkar said, “Hindu girls should practise yoga at home. They don’t know that a larger conspiracy is being hatched.” Naming a section of the population, Padalkar alleged that ‘they’ are trying to lure Hindu girls. The MLA, an erstwhile right hand of Republican leader Prakash Ambedkar, has found himself in soup time and again due to his shocking utterances. For instance, at a recent public meeting, he had made disparaging remarks in connection with the parentage of senior NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil. He was immediately chastised by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and was lying low for a short while. However, his Beed remarks have roused the Opposition parties. Padalkar said Hindu girls shouldn’t go to the gyms in which they did not know who the trainer is. They should be wary of such places.” He also demanded verification of the identity of college-going youths. Those without identification, too, should be checked and their entry into colleges should be banned, he suggested. Padalkar said a formidable preventive machinery would have to be created to curb such incidents. Padalkar’s Beed visit has gone viral on the social media since he has warned that various place names will be changed. His object was the names with Mughal dynastic history. In this connection, he mentioned Ahilyanagar, which was earlier Ahmednagar. Opposition leaders have started castigating him for his statements.
Even before the Mahagathbandhan — coalition of RJD, the Congress and CPI(M-L) parties — could clinch a deal on the number of seats it would contest in Bihar, allegations were flying thick and fast about sums of money that were being charged for declaring candidates in the Congress. Even as the party released its first list of 48 candidates, there were chaotic scenes at Patna airport on October 15 evening after Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram, Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, and senior leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan returned from Delhi following seat-sharing discussions. Shakeel Ahmed Khan was surrounded by the protesting crowd before he managed to escape in his car. Some protesters claimed that Congress leaders had sold tickets for Rs 5 crore. Were such sums of money really paid to get a single assembly seat? Party sources concede that seats like Buxar where Congress chief Kharge wanted to change the sitting MLA Sanjay Kumar Tiwari at the CEC meeting because enough crowds had not turned up for his meeting had to be reversed. So was the decision to replace incumbent Kishenganj MLA — but then he didn’t ultimately figure in the first list of 48 MLAs. At the same time, party sources say Bihar Congress workers were feeling terribly frustrated that the party tickets were being given for a price. It was being said that Rahul Gandhi’s activism in the state and the Voter Rights Yatra had raised expectations of Congress leaders and workers in Bihar. State Congress in-charge Allavaru’s efforts to identify three to four potential candidates for candidacy on nearly all seats in the state had raised lots of hopes. Ticket contenders had spent lakhs of rupees from their own resources, but now they have been left in the lurch, and more importantly Allavaru had also failed to answer their phones.
Barely a month after his closed-door meeting with Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in September, former Kolkata Mayor and ex-Minister Sovan Chatterjee has once again stirred Bengal’s political cauldron. This time, he reportedly held a two-hour long private meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her recent visit to Darjeeling to oversee the aftermath of a natural disaster. Interestingly, while Sovan’s earlier meeting with Abhishek took place in the presence of his long-time companion Baisakhi Banerjee, his latest conversation with Mamata happened privately — despite Baisakhi being in Darjeeling on vacation. Though both camps have remained tight-lipped, sources close to Sovan claim he may re-enter active politics within the next couple of months, marking a potential return to the TMC fold. Speculation about Sovan’s comeback has surfaced multiple times. But, this time, insiders say the talks appear far more serious. Political observers believe the timing is crucial — hinting at possible internal rebalancing, especially amid mounting criticism of Kolkata Mayor and State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, who is one of the closest aides of Didi. Hakim faced severe backlash, even within the party, over the city’s September deluge that killed 10 people and left large parts of Kolkata waterlogged for nearly 48 hours. His removal as HIDCO Chairman and his uneasy equation with Abhishek Banerjee have further fuelled speculation. Sovan’s history with Hakim is well-known. As Kolkata Mayor in 2010, Sovan worked alongside Hakim, then his deputy, but their relationship remained strained. Later, as Mamata consolidated power, Hakim rose to a cabinet position overseeing municipal bodies — including KMC. After resigning from both posts in 2018, Sovan briefly joined the BJP but soon withdrew from politics. Now, it is learnt that ‘ghar wapsi’ has begun, Sovan has been inducted as NKDA chairman which is basically under...
After much speculation, the Central Govt cleared Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s foreign travel on October 14. However, the MEA removed Saudi Arabia from Vijayan’s itinerary. Initially Vijayan had appeared sceptical about whether he would get the Centre’s nod for the official trip. For obvious reasons, the opposition Congress has assailed Vijayan’s Gulf tour as “a political stunt “aimed at influencing the assembly elections” due in May next year. Congress leader Cherian Philip alleged that Vijayan was touring the Gulf to raise election funds at the behest of the ruling CPM. Philip said the government had dipped into the “cash-strapped State treasury” to fund the CM’s overseas trip to mobilise funds at the behest of ruling CPI(M).It is interesting to note that Vijayan will be visiting Gulf countries which are home to the Lulu Group, which has been close to the Marxists and has preferred to invest in Kerala as well as the rest of India.
Looks like India’s aluminium king Anil Agarwal is now into full scale PR exercise with the Odisha government. Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Group, is meeting Odisha chief minister CM Mohan Charan Majhi and his team because the group’s controversial Sijimali bauxite mine project is facing the scrutiny of both environmental and forest clearances amidst local community’s opposition. Agarwal’s objective of camping in Bhubaneswar is to ensure Odisha government’s absolute buy-in of Vedanta’s project requirement. The rumour is Vedanta intends to have a joint press conference post his meeting with CM and his senior team. Already Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja is coordinating with all respective stakeholders to accelerate Vedanta’s $ 20 bn investment into aluminium project. Agarwal who is saying his big investment in Odisha is part of “nation building exercise” which will not only boost industrial growth but also create job opportunities in Odisha. It is learnt that Agarwal is dangling the carrot to Odisha government saying once the bauxite plant gets the government’s green signal, he will also set up downstream aluminium park in Odisha. Sources say Odisha will play along with Agarwal as Vedanta Group is committed to big investment in Odisha; Rs 1.27 lakh crore to set up a 3 MTPA aluminium smelter in the Dhenkanal district, Rs 1 lakh crore to develop 6 MTPA aluminium refinery in Rayagada as well.
Finally, some news to cheer. Google announced it would invest a whopping $15 billion (approx. Rs 1.34 lakh crore) in India over the next five years (2026-2030), the biggest to date in the country. The announcement was made at the Bharat AI Shakti event hosted by Google in New Delhi on October 14. This was revealed in the presence of Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw (IT), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Google Cloud Chief Thomas Kurian. The tech giant revealed that it will open India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), touted to be the company’s biggest such centre outside the U.S. Ahead of the announcement, Sundar Pichai had held talks with PM Modi about the opening of an AI Hub in India. The Google AI Hub in Visakhapatnam represents a landmark investment in India’s digital future. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to the Indian and U.S. governments to harness AI responsibly and drive transformative impact for society,” said Kurian. In addition to the new international subsea gateway, Google AI will connect with multiple international subsea cables in Visakhapatnam on India’s eastern coast. This will connect to Google’s more than two million miles of existing terrestrial and subsea cables. This will establish Visakhapatnam as an AI and connectivity hub that not only serves India but the rest of the world. Once operational, it will join Google’s network of existing AI data centres that spans 12 countries. In a post on X, PM Modi cheered the launch of AI Hub as something that aligns with “our vision to build a Viksit Bharat and hoped it would secure India’s place as a global technology leader!”
Inasmuch as one would like to pat the selection committee for facilitating Indian cricket skip a few steps ahead by naming Shubman Gill as captain of the men in blue one-day international team, the committee refused to state its position on the status of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma vis-a-vis their selection for the 2027 World Cup. Ajit Agarkar was right in saying that that October 2025 is not the right time to take an affirmative call for an event that’s going to happen in October-November 2027. Surely Agarkar and his committee could no way have “blocked” Virat and Rohit’s seats well in advance to leave the other contenders short-changed. The selection committee may or may not remain the same after next year’s BCCI AGM but a matter of vital importance is whether Virat and Rohit would continue to be picked for all one-day internationals — in all 21 ODIs after the three-match series in Australia. India is scheduled to play South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka (all a three match series at home till November 2026 and England and New Zealand, all a three-match away series) and indeed by end of 2026, a few more cricketers would be pressing hard for a place in the one-day team for the World Cup. India’s Test team will be occupied with a five-Test series at home in January-February 2027 before the scheduled WTC final in London, after which the focus will be on a round of a 50 over matches/tournaments. The million $ question is whether the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir will allow the Virat-Rohit thorn to be in their flesh for that long.
After successfully pushing through GST-2 reforms, PM Modi had been looking for innovative ideas for governance. It was this search for ideas to further fuel his Viksit Bharat that led to him to interact with about 85 secretary-level officers of the government on October 6. About two dozen secretary-level officers heading various ministries and departments actively participated in the discussions. It is learnt officers were thrilled with the personal interaction they had with the PM. Three days after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan was already acting on their suggestions. On October 9, he wrote to the secretaries and asked them to roll out their ideas. Among the key points of action was promoting “indigenous development” of digital and social media platforms. The directive on digital platforms is significant as the number of internet subscribers in India as on March 2025 stood at 969.1 million, with most using foreign platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. Significantly, PM Modi pushed for use of local platforms coinciding with the launch of Arattai, the messaging app developed by Tamil Nadu-based Zoho Corporation. Earlier, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X that he was switching to Zoho’s homegrown office suite software. Likewise, Home Minister Amit Shah too switched his official email service to Zoho Mail. In his letter, the Cabinet Secretary had also dissuaded ministries/departments from avoidable litigation and filing unnecessary court cases and wasting resources. Officials were also told to reorient PhD programmes to promote innovation and development of new ideas, and technologies, through topics that fit the emerging needs of the country – and conceptualise awards at the international level to recognise excellence in various fields. Overall, the ministries have been asked to promote “Atmanirbharta” and reduce imports.
In the last 14 India-West Indies Tests there were 25 centuries and all but two of them were by Indian batsmen. Making hundreds against the West Indies has become almost routine but the remarkable feature is that the Indian youth brigade is coming regularly to the party these days. Shubman Gill, just 26, who made his fifth Test century in just 12th innings as captain, was only a few innings behind Alastair Cook (9) and Sunil Gavaskar (10) in recording the feat. Even Sir Donald Bradman took 13 innings to make that fifth hundred as captain of Australia. Having also assumed responsibility as captain on the tour of England, Gill has five hundreds in the calendar year in his 10 Test centuries overall as he emulates Virat Kohli in making merry when hitting a purple patch of batting form. Pushing him hard in making Test centuries is the opener Yashasvi Jaiswal whose hunger for runs has become a lot more famous than his satiating his physical hunger by helping out at a Pani Puri stall outside the tented ground that was his home in Mumbai. The anger he showed in seeing his captain turn his back on him as he sought a quick single when in his 170s is evidence of how run-hungry Jaiswal is. Not yet 24, he joins South African Graeme smith as a quick collector of seven Test centuries as opener. Run making may get more difficult when Team India plays tougher opposition like South Africa in a home series, but the fact remains that there is a youth brigade that is making India proud again since the halcyon days of Gavaskar in 1971 when the breakthrough victory came in the Caribbean.
In a watershed year for Indian cinema, Kannada and Malayalam industries are leading the charge with blockbuster epics that blend cultural depth with universal spectacle. Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 has shattered records, amassing Rs 500 crore worldwide, fuelled by its raw portrayal of Karnataka’s ‘Bhoota Kola’ rituals and environmental folklore. Shetty’s dual role as the fierce Panjara— a forest guardian clashing with modernity—delivers visceral action and spiritual resonance, backed by immersive folk music and stunning Udupi landscapes. The film’s grassroots appeal exploded through dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, turning rural myths into pan-Indian anthems and earning global acclaim at festivals like Busan. Hot on its heels, Malayalam’s Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra released on August 20, 2025, surged past Rs 300 crore in just six weeks, heralding a superhero saga rooted in Kerala’s matrilineal heritage. Director Dominic Arun masterfully fuses high-octane VFX with emotional intimacy, as producer Dulquer Salmaan crafts a universe where heroine Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan) wields ancestral powers against cosmic threats. Priyadarshan’s nuanced turn — from vulnerable orphan to empowered icon — fills a void in female-led genre tales, while spicy dialogue controversies sparked viral debates, boosting theatre footfalls. Salmaan’s bold vision promises spin-offs, blending local lore with Marvel-esque flair. This duo’s dominance underscores a broader renaissance: Gujarati’s Chhello Show 2 breached Rs 100 crore with its heartfelt immigrant saga; Marathi’s Dashaavtar hit Rs 50 crore via satirical family dramedy; and Tamil’s Coolie topped Rs 250 crore in labour-rights thriller mode. Smart OTT tie-ups, dubbed releases, and culturally authentic narratives propel these beyond regional silos, outshining Hindi’s faltering Param Sundari and Sunny Sankari ki Tulsi Kumari. As indigenous voices claim centre stage, Indian cinema evolves into a vibrant mosaic....
IndiGo seems to have cracked it. Their experiment to introduce direct flights between Manchester and Mumbai on July 1, seems to have more than enough takers. Emboldened by such a good response the airline has chalked up plans to add one more destination, Mumbai-London from October 26, making it the 45th destination. IndiGo has direct flights to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai, and now it will be in direct competition with the established British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Air India. IndiGo continues its code-sharing as a partner carrier with some European and Middle Eastern airlines. The tremendous traffic growth — both business and regular travellers, the latest signing of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK, surge in India–UK activities on all fronts, including culture, has prompted IndiGo to offer this direct service, say aviation insiders. IndiGo will provide a trendy, competitive lower price at Rs 22,000 upwards for return tickets. IndiGo aims to attract budget travellers on its long-haul service. In addition to direct flights between Mumbai-London, it will also commence direct flights between Manchester-Delhi from November 15. It will certainly be good tidings to the residents of Delhi, north India, Gujarat, and Central India. with the vast network it operates from Delhi, being its headquarters. Mumbai serves as a hub for western India pockets. It is contemplating increasing its 3-day a week frequency to its current Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule between Manchester to Mumbai, thus probably making a service of 9 flights freely in a week from Manchester.
Recruitment scam seems to be the new normal. Now, the state of Odisha is rocked by the Sub-Inspector Recruitment Scam. The Opposition parties, BJD and Congress, have been staging demonstrations against the ruling BJP government demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024. It is said that the written examination for recruitment of sub-inspectors conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board was postponed after Berhampur Police busted a major recruitment racket with the arrest of 114 aspirants and three middlemen from the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on September 30. Subsequent investigation revealed the role of an “organised criminal syndicate” was in place to subvert the entire examination process and give job to people who were willing to pay speed money. Sources say such a scam cannot happen without the blessings of senior government officials. It is alleged that each Sub-Inspector post was being sold for Rs 25 lakh. Informed sources say the scam could be worth around Rs 200 crore. So far Vanik Coaching Centre in Odisha is in focus. In the last 15 months, 16 recruitment exams have been cancelled at the last moment, leaving job aspirants frustrated. The BJP-led government by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi says the recent recruitment scam in police is the legacy of the previous Naveen Patnaik’s BJD government. When Short Post contacted DGP Y B Khurania he refused to comment saying, “he was going on leave”.
The idiom aging like an old wine seems apt for the 56-year old Bobby Deol. Finally, he has stepped out of the shadow of his father Dharmendra and brother Sunny Deol. For an actor who almost became a recluse and took to drinking, the comeback has proved all his detractors wrong. What changed his life was an innocent question by his children: why is daddy home and not going to work? This is what he said in an exhaustive interview to Times Now‘s Navika Kumar. He went out looking for a job and he was lucky. A web series came his way and his role as Baba Nirala in Aashram (2020) made audiences sit up again. Then came Animal (2023), where his near-silent performance stole the spotlight despite limited screen time. Suddenly, Bollywood’s “forgotten Deol” was the industry’s most talked-about star. Bobby made his debut in Barsaat (1995). With hit films like Gupt, Soldier, Badal and Bichhoo he had carved a niche for himself as the romantic action hero. His downfall started some time in 2010 as a lot of new faces emerged who were versatile. Now cut to current days, he seems breezing with confidence… zipping in and out of film sets or TV news studios. Sure, Bobby has bounced back but diehard industry watchers have a piece of advice for him. “Now, that films are coming the way, he should pick and choose…he should strike a fine balance between art and commerce…that’s a craft he needs to master”.
In the intensely competitive ecosystem of Kollywood, traversing 22 years and reaching Lady Super Star status is no mean feat …in the same demanding profession where beauty, fitness and a modicum of acting talent combine to make a star. Forty-year old Nayanthara has achieved this milestone, still holding steady as one of the highest paid heroines (Rs 7 crore per film) pan India. Before she turned into the legend Nayan, she was Diane Mariam Kurian, dad Kurian Kudiyattu from the armed forces and mother Omana Kurian who bestowed her beauty and grace. Maybe she carried her military disciplined upbringing to her profession. But Nayan, went through some stormy and controversial romantic hookups too…her dalliance with a married Prabhu Deva, her brief affairs with Simbu and Arya provided much chomping fodder to the media, hungry for titillating bits and bytes. From her first film, Manasinakkare in Malayalam in 2003, to playing Sarat Kumar’s lead in Aiyya in 2005 …pairing with Rajinikanth in Chandramukhi which put her in orbit …soon Vijay, Ajitt, Suriya, Vikram, Simbu, Dhanush and Arya were her co-stars. Nayan’s name guaranteed a good box office run. She carried a mythological, Mookuthi Amman on her shoulders and turned a craze among women; the director is now ready with Mookuthi Amman 2. Vignesh Shivan, her husband came into her life with his directed film Naanum Rowdy Thaan, a relationship that merged into marriage in 2002, a much-hyped wedding… Netflix filmed and marketed it. Her twin boys, Uyir and Ulagh keep her busy, even as she still works in films with the same zeal in heroine-oriented roles. Nayan’s cosmetics start-up is sought after by fashionistas.
Jindal (India), part of the BC Jindal Group, is all set to expand its Howrah steel plant in West Bengal with Rs 1,500-crore investment. Already operating two plants in the state producing a range of steel-based downstream products, the group will significantly enhance its production capabilities with this addition. The Jindal Group’s latest investment aligns with its broader plan to scale up steel production across India, aiming to invest Rs18,000 crore over the coming years to enhance overall manufacturing capacity. The new Rs 1,500-crore downstream facility in West Bengal, with an annual capacity of 0.6 million tonnes, is expected to boost the company’s existing capacity by 60%, significantly increasing production of coated flat products, pipes, and crash barriers. According to the company, the commissioning of the new cold rolling complex marks the completion of a key phase in the expansion project, raising Jindal India’s total downstream steel capacity from 1 million to 1.6 million tonnes annually. Currently, Jindal India operates two advanced West Bengal facilities specialising in cutting-edge colour coating, galvanising, and galvalume technologies, further strengthening its position in India’s steel sector. Beyond West Bengal, the company, through its subsidiary, Jindal India Steel Tech is setting up a greenfield steel manufacturing plant in Dhenkanal, Odisha. JISTL plans to invest a total of Rs 15,000 crore in Odisha in three phases by 2030, with the current Rs 3,600 crore investment marking the first phase of the project.
Each time Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) attempts to appease Lord Ayyappa, something horribly goes wrong. With elections around the corner, first municipality in December 2025 and assembly elections in early 2026, the CPM-led LDF has been doing its best to appease Lord Ayyappa. The Kerala government held a Global Ayyappa Sangamam on the banks of river Pamba last month, in the name of commemorating the platinum jubilee of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages Hindu temples across the state. The meets agenda also included promotion of pilgrim tourism and exploration of investment opportunities. The meet failed miserably when the Opposition Congress-led UDF and BJP opposed the meet. It ended in a whimper with very low attendance. The hype behind the meet led to the focus shifting to release of Ayyappa devotees arrested in the 2018 Sabarimala protest against the Supreme Court judgement permitting women of menstruating age to worship at the shrine. While devotees and people at large ignored the Supreme Court ruling, the LDF took special interest in implementing the Apex Court order by forcefully taking young women to the shrine with full police protection. This act left LDF not only alienating the Hindus in the state but also families of CPM cadres. The Left-oriented cadres, at least on paper may be atheists, but not their families.
Trisha Krishnan is a beautiful and talented Tam Brahm enigma in Kollywood. At 40, she is still sought after. Trisha turned into a craze after Ponniyin Selvan, a Mani Rathnam magnum opus, though her Vidaamuyarchi with Ajith left the audience cold. The media and fans are still trying to decode her persona …is she a Cool Cat or is she a Virago Vixen? Those close to her would vouch for a potent mixture of both. And making public statements like her recent bold dare “I am waiting for people to plan my honeymoon too”. Is she tired of the talk about her romantic links or the presumed liaisons (Vijay figures prominently) or is she trumpeting her bold attitude? Not that Trisha is a boring, simpering and simple lady who pulls her housing shell tightly over her head and coils up. Not at all…she is a fun-loving effervescent girl who bubbles more like her Bubbly in her Chennai beach outings with her friends. But she has had some near escapes from permanent betrothal…her relationship with Rana Daggubati went on for long, then suddenly ended. Another engagement to a sturdy South Indian turned stormy, when Trisha stormed out of the ceremony. She does seem to get these last-minute jitters, poor girl but is not prepared for the backlash …constant chatter about her next romance. One such “almost real almost fake news” must have raised her hackles. Filmdom has many such encounters of a nasty kind but only a few like Trisha can take them head on.
Fifty-four-year old national award-winning Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta flew into the UK recently for the premiere of her film Puratawn (The Ancient). Rituparna held two screenings — London and Manchester — to attract the Indian diaspora and other nationalities. The film received an overwhelming response from her fans and others, as the film revolved around the sensitive subject of dementia. The UK has a huge population suffering from this disease. Over one million suffer today, and the numbers are likely to increase to 1.4 million, say experts, thus making Rituparna’s film more relatable to the UK audiences. The Bengali film with English subtitles explores memory loss, and reconciliation through the story of Ritika, who returns to her ancestral home with her husband to celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday. What begins as a family gathering evolves into a profound meditation on ageing, identity, and the shadows of the past. The film stars screen legend Sharmila Tagore alongside Sengupta and Indraneil Sengupta, with cinematography by Ravi Kiran Ayyagari and music by Alokananda Dasgupta. The film’s delicate treatment of memory and its exploration of the bonds between generations touched the chords of the UK audiences. To Rituparna, producing and acting in the film was both a professional challenge and a personal journey.
Women journalists were conspicuous by their absence at a press conference by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi on October 10. The participation was limited to less than 20 reporters. The exclusion of women journalists sparked political outrage nationwide. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded that PM Modi clarify his position on the incident, calling it “an insult to India’s women journalists.” In a post on X she asked “If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, then how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride.” In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that it had no involvement in Muttaqi’s press interaction. The press conference was organised at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi following bilateral talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Muttaqi. TMC MP Mahua Moitra in a post on X attacked the government saying, “How dare our government allow Taliban foreign minister Amir Muttaqi to exclude women journalists & hold a ‘male-only’ news conference on Indian soil with full protocol? How dare @DrSJaishankar agree to this? & why did our emasculated spineless male journos remain in room?” Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also expressed shock and disappointment, saying “male journalists should have walked out in solidarity with their female colleagues.” During his bilateral meeting with Muttaqi, Jaishankar had announced that India would upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of the Embassy of India. The Taliban minister will continue to be in India until October 16.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made amends in the first innings of the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi for a massive lapse in the first Test in Ahmedabad. The red-soil pitch at the NaMo Stadium had settled down and the left-hander had cracked seven 4s in his 54-ball essay. A century was there for the taking, but he marched back to the dressing room at 36, feathering fast bowler Jayden Seales to the keeper. He had cramped himself trying to work the ball around square point, but only directed the ball to the man with big gloves. He did not make such an error and stayed the whole of the first day in New Delhi, showing the appetite to score 173 not out in 253 balls with 22 x 4s. In a short span of two years and three months the southpaw who likens himself to a pugilist at the crease has gone after the leather, showing skill and courage and already put up five scores in excess of 150. He challenged the fast bowlers in Australia where he aggregated 391 runs in five Tests and 411 runs in England and proved that he is not just a run machine on featherbeds in India. He could have done a lot more in England, but his two centuries were valuable enough. His unbeaten 173 on the first day at New Delhi made him the leading scorer — after England’s Joe Root’s 2307 in 25 Tests — after his debut against the West Indies in July 2023. It was 2245 runs in 25 Tests for him, but his seventh century has left Root behind: Jaiswal has truly proved his solidity at the top of the order.
Janata Party President Navneet Chaturvedi filed his nomination for the lone Rajya Sabha seat out of seven from Punjab that became vacant when Sanjeev Arora resigned from RS after he was elected MLA from Ludhiana West seat on AAP ticket. Interestingly, unlike assemblies, Rajya Sabha nomination mandates sponsorship by 10 sitting MLAs and Chaturvedi claims support of 10 MLAs from AAP that currently rules Punjab. AAP officially announced the candidature of billionaire Rajendra Gupta, chairman Trident Group, with two decades as Punjab minister under erstwhile Akali Dal and then Congress state governments. Gupta recently resigned his post as vice chairman of the State Economic Policy and Planning Board and chairman of the Kali Devi temple advisory board in Punjab. Chaturvedi has little confidence that 60 AAP MLAs of the 92 MLAs (out of 117 totally elected MLAs of Punjab) would actually vote him to the upper house and yet, feels his nomination upsets the existing trend of two decades when the Rajya Sabha seats from the state have been an unopposed political affair thus far. “RS candidates should also reflect the people’s aspirations in Punjab, be well versed with peoples’ issues rather than business people to whom political parties literally sell Rajya Sabha seats. There is certainly an undercurrent within AAP about its party chief Arvind Kejriwal holding de facto CM post while dominating over official CM Bhagwant Mann. My consistent endeavor is to revive and rejuvenate the Janata Party that once boasted its own Prime Minister through then chief Morarji Desai,” says Chaturvedi.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is apparently keen to move beyond the RJD’s traditional support base — the Yadavs and Muslims. It is being said that he is planning to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly Election from two constituencies. Tejashwi currently represents the Raghopur seat. He is also toying with the idea of contesting from the Phulparas Assembly constituency in Madhubani district. The seat is currently held by Sheela Kumari of the JD(U). Phulparas is seen as a JD(U) stronghold. Significance of the Phulparas assembly seat is that it was once represented by notable OBC icon and former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur — both incumbent CM Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav were seen as his followers. The Modi government had posthumously awarded Thakur Bharat Ratna in January 2024. His son, Ram Nath Thakur, is a MoS in the Modi government. Phulparas holds historical significance because Karpoori Thakur contested from the seat after becoming Chief Minister in 1977. Tejashwi believes that if he also contests from Phulparas, it could significantly influence the support of extremely backward castes in the Kosi and Seemanchal regions. In January this year, the RJD held a grand event in Phulparas to mark the birth anniversary of Karpoori Thakur, which Tejashwi attended. During the event, local leaders and supporters urged him to contest from the constituency. Meanwhile, CM Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, could enter the electoral fray in Bihar. The supporters of the CM have reportedly urged him to field Nishant in the upcoming elections, and speculation is rife that Nitish Kumar may heed their demand. According to party insiders, JDU leaders and workers are keen for Nishant to contest from the Harnaut Assembly seat in Nalanda. The final decision, however, rests with Nitish Kumar.
Why has BSP leader Mayawati realised that her main enemy is the Samajwadi Party and its leader Akhilesh Yadav, and not the BJP? Is it because the SP wooed her Dalit voters? At a rally in Lucknow on October 9, she lavished praise on the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in UP for maintaining the Kanshi Ram memorial. The BSP supremo had returned to deliver a fiery address at the Shradhanjali Sabha for her mentor Kanshi Ram. “I am grateful to the current state government because they did not hold back the collection of funds from the sale of tickets to the memorials built during my regime, for their upkeep,” she said. Mayawati said she had written to CM Yogi Adityanath in this regard, who, she added and he had kept his promise. “Isliye humari party unki abhari hai (So, the BSP is grateful to CM Adityanath).” In contrast, she said, “The SP regime had held back the funds meant for these memorials, which had led to their deterioration.” At the same time, Mayawati blamed the BJP-led Centre for “falsely framing” her and her family members in some corruption cases through the CBI and Income-tax. She said that the Congress regime had done the same thing during the UPA regime. Mayawati also urged BSP supporters to back her nephew Akash Anand in the same way they supported her. The BSP’s electoral fortunes have been steadily declining since the 2022 UP Assembly elections when its vote share fell to 12.88% and it won only one seat. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BSP’s vote share dropped further to 9.39% and zero seats. These BSP vote share figures indicate that the party’s support base is now confined to its core group of Jatav community.
BJP has escalated the recent attack on its Maldaha Uttar MP Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh in flood-hit North Bengal into a major political narrative, framing it as violence against a tribal leader. The party plans to use the image of Murmu’s bloodied face to highlight what it calls the TMC’s failure to protect elected representatives and to question the INDIA Bloc’s commitment to tribal welfare. While BJP has accused TMC supporters of carrying out the assault, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited Murmu in a Siliguri hospital. According to BJP sources, the state leadership had recently submitted a report assessing its North Bengal strength, predicting 44–48 wins out of 54 Assembly seats, up from 30 in 2021. The report highlighted TMC’s weak position, except in a few minority-dominated areas in Malda and the Dinajpurs, and suggested the Murmu incident could further consolidate BJP support. In 2021, BJP won 30 seats, TMC 23, and the Tamang faction of GJM one; by-elections have since adjusted the tally to 25 for BJP and 28 for TMC. In the last Lok Sabha polls, BJP led in 32 segments, TMC 15, and Congress-backed candidates seven. State general secretary Deepak Barman said relief may not sway rural votes but can influence urban middle-class sentiment. The party intends to nationalize the Murmu attack, highlighting tribal issues in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha, aiming to weaken Mamata’s national stature and put Congress and JMM in a difficult position within the INDIA Bloc. Interestingly, BJP believes this campaign could influence tribal voters in Bihar’s border areas.
Sunil Gavaskar is known as the “Little Master” for his terrific batting feats against top-notch fast bowlers of his time. On Tuesday (Oct 7) evening, he described former teammate Bhagwat Chandrasekhar as the “Original Match Winner” of Indian cricket and that’s because as he said, India was not used to winning overseas before the polio-affected leg-spinner’s 6 for 38 in 18.1 overs brought down the mighty Ray Illingworth’s England at ‘The Oval’ in the summer of 1971. Gavaskar has been part of the Ceat Cricket Ratings awards for 27 years, but for the first time he held the award he received on behalf of the affectionately called “Chandra”, from Harsh Goenka, Chairman of the RPG Group. Gavaskar said that those days, Chandra was quicker than the team’s new ball operators in Abid Ali, Eknath Solkar and on occasions, himself and that he has never seen Chandra’s polio affected right hand as he always carried with him a full-sleeved shirt even while going to the bathroom. Gavaskar kept the audience at St. Regis rapt with an anecdote around how Dileep Sardesai prompted Chandra to bowl a delivery named after a race horse ‘Mill Reef’ and got rid of the stoical left-hander John Edrich who was bowled for nought in the second innings as England folded up for 101. Chandra was chosen for the Ceat Lifetime Achievement award for his 242 wickets in 58 Tests from 1964 to 1979 at 29.75 with two 10-wicket and 16 five-wicket hauls. He featured in 14 Test wins, nine at home and five overseas, including the historic series win against England in 1971, Auckland, Port of Spain and at Melbourne (6 for 52 and 6 for 52) and Sydney.
Union home minister Amit Shah stated that though the top trio leadership of Maharashtra, namely chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies — Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar — the trimurtis of Maharashtra were not banias; they displayed the trading community trait and knew exactly how to get their work done. At the invited event, all three cornered me together seeking drought relief from Centre, Shah chuckled. Though the Centre has assured aid to deal with the havoc of heavy crop damage due to heavy rains and floods, it has been held up due to incomplete damage assessments. A proposal for aid from Centre can be sent only once and cannot be revised, Fadnavis has been trying hard to explain to distraught farmers and a highly vocal Opposition. Incidentally, the Opposition had been cornering Fadnavis by demanding for wet drought, a non-existent term that was coined by Fadnavis when was an Opposition leader in 2020. Fadnavis also refused to declare a drought instead suggesting that all drought-like sops or exemptions would be granted without officially being declared a drought. While the Opposition has been demanding that the state waive off crop loans and declare a state of drought, the Fadnavis government refused to bite the bait and refused to waive off crop loan. Fadnavis’ logic. Mere loan waiver won’t help farmers as they won’t have money to invest for next cropping season. Though the floods lashed the state in the last week of September, the state has been promising aid only before Diwali assuring them that their Diwali won’t be dark this year.
Cinema and politics might have made the best equation as NT Rama Rao, MGR and then Jayalalithaa as well as MGR Janaki became chief ministers. Cricket did not, however, present as easy a passage to politics in India though Imran Khan became Prime Minister of Pakistan after founding the PTI party. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was one of the earliest in the country to attempt to enter politics. But, despite having the support of Rajiv Gandhi and others, failed to get elected to the Lok Sabha. Navjot Sidhu was one who made the art of speaking pay in his passion for politics though he had a chequered run as MP. Kirti Azad, a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team, was one of the earliest India cricketers to win elections as he became an MP from Bihar and he too has had a variable run while changing political parties. Chetan Chauhan, better known as the Rajput who was Sunil Gavaskar’s steady opening partner, made a success of politics, becoming a minister in UP before graduating to the Lok Sabha. He may have been the inspiration for Gautam Gambhir who went on to become a MP from Delhi with the BJP. He is now more famous as the unsmiling Team India coach that is on the road to redemption. Mohd Azharuddin, despite his exit from the Indian cricket team under the cloud of betting scandals, proved victorious in UP in 2009 and is still hoping to get back into full time politics. While Sachin Tendulkar is a largely silent Rajya Sabha member who shuns the political spotlight, there are others like Harbhajan Singh who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the AAP. The lure of cinema may be magnetic in the south but in the north cricketers have found slots in politics with greater success.
Public plots meant for public transportation utilities are increasingly being given up for commercial development by the government authorities. State’s transport minister Pratap Sarnaik invited developers to take up 13,000 acres of depot lands across prime locations in Mumbai for commercial development by offering them on 98-year-long leases. Sarnaik believes that this kind of commercial development would infuse fresh funds into the loss-making state transport department. Mumbai iconic public transportation utility, the BEST has already given up three of its depots for commercial development. The BEST had commissioned global financial consulting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers to identify strategies for commercial development of land held by its depots, staff quarters etc. The BEST has already developed three depots, Mahim, Yari Road and Kurla – out of its 27 depots in Mumbai for commercial development and another three – Bandra, Dindoshi and Deonar – are in the pipeline. The BEST’s depots at Dharavi and Kala Killa depot, are also being offered to Adani to be clubbed along with Dharavi redevelopment. This is not including the 45 acres of railway land (scaled down from 100 acres of land earlier) being handed over to Adani for Dharavi redevelopment. The BMC has already handed over 53 hectares of land reclaimed for the Coastal Road project to a corporate body for development. Incidentally, even as all this is being usurped when the state government took almost 33 hectares or 80 acres of prime forest land to develop into a car shed for the city’s upcoming Metro network. Not surprisingly urban policy analysts like Hussain Indorewalla noted that “Public agencies see themselves not as stewards of public land acting in public interest, but as asset managers and private landlords rolled into one.”
There is some mysterious compulsion in film stars who hanker for media projection, compulsively, yet want to play hide and seek with their fans. Often, the liaisons go through many hoops…we are just friends, we are co-stars who respect each other, our families have known each other …but the real relationship surfaces only after many such games. National crush Rashmika and the middle ‘classic’ icon Vijay Deverakonda are supposed to have pledged their future together at an “intimate, private ceremony in Hyderabad”…a news item that immediately raised the radar of not just speculation, but certainty. Soon enough the mainstream media had the news flash. Rashmika may have instinctively realised that she couldn’t make Vijay wait indefinitely. Now the next speculation about how strong the bond is, as the age difference between the two is seven years, and the Telugu hero Deverakonda has been overtaken by Rashmika who has moved into a pan India super slot after her Pushpa, Animal, Chavva, Sikander and Kubera collectively grossing Rs 3,300 crore. Pushpa and sequel have of course hit the top slot many times over, with Rashmika competing equally with Allu Arjun for encore applause, 26 films in her kitty. Telugu audiences went crazy over their super chemistry in Geetha Govindam, the first film starring both, a chemistry that turned into a relationship over time. Forbes India lists Vijay as one of the highest paid Telugu film stars, even though his Kingdom and Khushi met with average success. The wedding is planned for February, 2026…in case you get invited.
This Dussehra weekend produced a striking box‑office lesson: Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1, a regional franchise title released in multiple languages, dramatically outperformed the new Hindi release Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari starring Varun Dhawan despite modest marketing for both. Kantara’s all‑language opening was reported at Rs 60 crore, with the Hindi version alone contributing Rs 19.5 crore on day one; SSKTK’s day one tally was roughly Rs 9 crore. On day two Kantara held very strong — around Rs 43.65 crore across languages, with the Hindi slice at about Rs 12 crore — taking a two‑day cumulative near Rs 105.5 crore, while SSKTK dropped to about Rs 5.25 crore on day two, totalling roughly Rs 14.25 crore across two days. Those numbers are revealing. First, the Hindi‑belt audience clearly embraced Kantara’s Hindi version at levels more than double SSKTK’s in the initial 48 hours. This suggests that a compelling story, rooted identity and franchise momentum from the South can translate into pan‑Indian box office power, even against a star‑led mainstream Hindi release. Second, the performance underscores how audiences today often prioritize spectacle, strong world‑building and franchise potential over conventional star vehicles, especially during holiday windows when families seek high‑energy, communal viewing experiences. For Hindi industry stakeholders the takeaway is urgent: star power alone may no longer guarantee opening weekend dominance. Building durable IP, investing in cross‑lingual accessibility, and crafting marketing that conveys the film’s scale and emotional stakes are critical. Simultaneously, distributors and producers should respect release timing and ensure robust promotional pushes in non‑native markets. Kantara’s success is not merely regional pride; it is a reminder that content that feels native yet universal, backed by smart release strategy, can outshine traditional formulas and reshape audience expectations across India.
Come October 8, 2025, when PM Narendra Modi dedicates Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai International Airport facility to the world, more airports will quickly follow. To be imminently commissioned facilities include Jewar in UP (Oct 30), Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh (Dec 30) alongside the Lucknow and Ahmedabad (Adani Airport) facilities all ready for international take-offs. The common factor binding these airports, also 11 other major airports currently underway, is the sole Project Management Consultant — Saga Global Consultants. SGC successfully bid for and secured PMC rights through distinct tendering processes. In fact, this Mumba-based specialised engineering firm, founded by the former PSU chief, turned preferred choice over even Engineering India Ltd, a public sector undertaking conferred Navratna status. For the man behind the low profile Saga’s success — SK Jain — former ED of BPCL and Chairman of Indian Petroleum Corporation major aviation projects in India and internationally have seemingly been a walk in the park with even the Adani operated MIAL expressing its appreciation, “… for improving operational readiness during a major airport expansion” at the Mumbai Airport Fuel Farm (MAFFFL). The already commissioned Delhi International Airport Fuel Farm ((DAFFPL) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, Kotoka International Airport in Ghana, Port-Au-Prince (PAP) in Haiti and Accra Air Force base in Ghana are merely “been-there-done-that” experientially executed airport facilities under Saga’s distinguished past accomplishments list already. Way ahead includes over 100 new major and minor airports to be commissioned in quick time for India with the just commenced Shell MRPL Aviation Fuels & Services Ltd airport facility project setting a completion timeline of merely eight months from now.
Copper is a high-utility commodity. Its use cuts across activities. To be sure, copper finds application in an array of functionalities in a household — be it a traditional one or a modern house. India held a pride of place in the international sphere in terms of copper production. So much so, India was a net exporter of copper. That was a few years ago. Things have got tipsy-turvy now. Ever since the closure of the Sterlite’s copper plant at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, the domestic supply shortage has increased. That the closure of the Sterlite plant was more due to politics than economics was, however, a different matter. The fact is that the country is experiencing a huge copper shortage. The unfolding geo-politics has added a new dimension to the copper story. The supply restrictions by China have only compounded the problem. So much so, copper theft has risen these days. There are reports of copper wire being stolen from AC compressors in residential terraces. This does not augur well. Who is to be blamed? The blame game won’t address the issue. A practical outlook to issues is what we need. Not the game of one-upmanship, to be sure.
Slain police sub inspector Prakash Pandurang More’s daughter Anushka has finally been appointed in a government job. Her father was killed by Pakistani terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008. Anushka has obtained a bachelor degree in pharmacy. She has been posted in the medical education department of the state government on compassionate grounds. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had urged the Maharashtra Public Service Commission to relax the relevant rules so that Anushka could be accommodated in a suitable government job. Fadnavis handed over the appointment letter to Anushka at a function in Mumbai on Friday. He said, “It is our duty to do justice towards the families of the valorous jawans. The appointment of Anushka is a salute to the gallantry of PSI Prakash More. I feel that I have fulfilled a sacred responsibility.” More was among the many police personnel killed during the attack. Subsequently, the government had initiated the process of absorbing their dependents in the government service on the ground of compassion, an old practice in Maharashtra. Tears in her eyes, Anushka recalled the bravery of her late father and said he died for the country. She said the family was satisfied that the sacrifice had been honoured. Anushka is among the thousands of appointees, who have been employed by the state on compassionate grounds.
Mumbai’s importance as the nation’s economic capital will increase by a quantum leap when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the first phase of the greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on 8 October. The airport, when fully operational, is estimated to generate business worth Rs 1 lakh crore rupees through various activities in and around it. The nearby JNPA port and the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor will be the two important drivers to boost the economy of Maharashtra and India. After several hiccups, the NMIA will witness the first commercial flights in December. The airport has been built at an investment of about Rs 20,000 crore. Once all the four terminals are completed, the total approximate investment will be of Rs 1 lakh crore. The second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, has secured its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 30 September. The joint venture project will be developed in phases by NMIA. Adani Group has 74% stake and the balance 26% is with the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), completely owned by the State government. According to the schedule available, the PM will land at the Navi Mumbai International Airport in the afternoon and will spend almost two hours there. Modi will first visit the terminal building and then address the inaugural function, opening a new chapter in India’s efforts to become self-reliant.
Tripti Dimri has a larger than life brief to enact when she plays stormy Parveen Babi in a soon to be made biopic by Netflix. Who doesn’t know Parveen Babi’s Royal Afghani lineage, her modelling career careening into Bollywood as a sex symbol, the eight films she co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan, her boldness to take on roles that closet cowards ached to ape, her riveting, sizzling on screen presence that turned on audiences? But destiny dealt a serious blow to her career when she was diagnosed as schizophrenic, soon labelled manic. Imagine her state of mind even as she rode the crest of filmi success when she accused Big B of being a Don, planning to kidnap and kill her. Many more such incidents weighed on her career. She tried a spiritual retreat and overseas trip. In 2005, this tempestuous and beautiful actor died alone in her Mumbai flat. After Tamil actress Silk Smitha’s biopic, Dirty Picture, is this another effort to lay bare an artist’s sad life or is it a homage to Parveen Babi who raked in millions for her producers? In a misogynistic social environment, women who are bold enough to smash so called societal norms are termed easy prey. One only hopes that this biopic will depict her talent and magnetic screen presence marred by mental health issues. Babi lived her personal and professional life on her terms.
The Odisha government is focussing on the maritime sector to boost trade and industrial growth in eastern India. To start with, it has envisaged big investment in setting up a new greenfield deep-sea port at Bahuda in Ganjam district. Once completed, Bahuda will emerge as India’s 14th major port, developed as a satellite port of Paradip, aligning with the government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The Bahuda Port will serve as an anchor for port-led industrialisation, logistics parks, and manufacturing clusters across Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. The project is projected to generate direct and indirect employment for around 25,000 people while catalysing industrial and infrastructure growth in eastern India. The proposed port with a capacity of 150 MMTPA will be equipped to handle dry bulk ships ranging from 40,000 to 150,000 DWT and container vessels of up to 6,000 TEUs as per sources. Infrastructure plans include four docks, it will also have areas designated for port-led industrialization having robust connectivity through both road and rail networks. The project will be executed through a Special Purpose Vehicle with Paradip Port Authority (PPA) serving as the lead partner. Sources say a tripartite agreement has already been signed between the Odisha Maritime Board, PPA and Sagarmala Finance Corporation to facilitate the development of the port. It is also understood that Visakhapatnam Port Authority is expected to join the project at a later stage as per sources. Odisha is envisioning expanding its port capacity from the current 😯 MMTPA to 500 MMTPA by 2047.
Technology has shrunk the world into the palm of our hands. In the era of globalisation and digitalisation, some people might feel grateful. Some others might curse all the technological advancements. Starting from paying the milk vendor in the morning to booking an Ola ride after work, everything is at our fingertips. It is easy nowadays. But when we look at the flip side of the coin, the story appears different. People are getting replaced by Artificial intelligence, mass layoffs are a reality. When asked about the current situation, recruiters simply point to the lack of skill in these people! To fix this, Indian Institute of Technology Madras has come up with a NIPTA initiative – National Internship, Placement Training and Assessment. It is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry. All final and third-year engineering students can participate in this 12-week programme, which will cover all future competencies and award a certificate to students based on their performance level in the examination. Even though this move aligns with the Institute’s motto of ‘IITM for all’, not every student will get a placement or opportunity after this course, nor can a certificate validate one’s talent. In the end, initiatives like NIPTA may guide the path. Yet, consistent self-growth and adaptability alone will truly decide who thrives in tomorrow’s world.
Fifty-year old Bollywood actress, model and entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty Kundra is once again mired in controversies. The latest one pertains to Rs 60 crore fraud/cheating case filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, alleging misuse of funds meant for business growth in their now-defunct company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. He claims that between 2015-2023, money given for business expansion was used for other purposes, under the pretext of a loan or investment. A lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against both, and the High Court has denied them permission for a foreign trip amid the investigation. Earlier, she was drawn into a controversy involving her husband Raj Kundra over pornography/racy-content apps case, where Kundra was arrested in 2021 for allegedly producing and distributing adult content through mobile apps. During the porn app controversy, many were sympathetic to her, saying she was being dragged into her husband’s business affairs and unfairly targeted by the media. But, in the latest fraud case public sentiment seems divided. Then she said she was not aware of it and got a lot of public sympathy. Such controversy is certainly a setback for a celebrity like her. It has resulted in the closures of her Bandra restaurant being shut down. Shilpa who debuted in Baazigar (1993) has acted in over 50 films in Hindi, Tamil and Kannada. Looks like she has de-risked her strategy. She does not have too many films on her hand. She was recently seen in Hungama 2 and is working in OTT space. Shilpa has moved beyond films – judging reality shows, invested in gym/fitness business, fashion and brand endorsements. The general question everybody is asking is: was she a partner in crime?” Legally nothing has been proved. She and her lawyer are denying culpability. Investigation is ongoing. No court has declared her guilty as of now.
The Election Commission of India announced that Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases November 6 and 11. The counting will be on November 14.”Bihar poll is the mother of all elections, which is why a total of 8.5 lakh officers are deployed for Bihar elections,” said CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Closely questioned about the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls carried out in Bihar, the CEC assured, “People can still get their names added to voter lists till 10 days before the filing of nomination papers by candidates”. The electoral battle in the state will witness a direct contest between the ruling NDA led by chief minister Nitish Kumar and the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ led by the RJD. The NDA currently holds 131 seats — BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two independents. The Opposition has 111 seats — RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj will also make its debut, contesting all 243 seats in the state. The CEC also said the number of voters at each polling station has been capped at 1,200 and that the serial number font and candidate photos — which used to be in black and white — will now be in colour. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav tried to strike an emotional chord with voters via X. He wrote “Bihar will vote for a change in the coming assembly polls. After 20 years, a grand festival will arrive that will dispel all sorrows and troubles. On that day, every Bihari will join Tejashwi in celebrating victory, because on that day, every Bihari will become Bihar’s CM – that is, CHANGE MAKER”.
In an interesting twist, the BJP’s Madhya Pradesh government has appointed DMK lawyer P Wilson in a OBC quota case before the Supreme Court. Wilson is presently Rajya Sabha MP of the DMK. An additional solicitor general of the UPA government, he apparently got another term in the RS from the DMK after his successful legal battle questioning powers of the Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. BJP circles were quite puzzled that the MP government should opt for a DMK counsel. The buzz is Wilson was not the direct pick of the MP government. Apparently, chief minister Mohan Yadav had requested the OBC Mahasabha to suggest a name for legal representation. The Mahasabha had recommended Wilson. The OBC Mahasabha filed an affidavit in the SC last week ahead of the regular hearing on the implementation of 27% OBC reservation and unfreezing of 13% reserved posts in MP. The SC is scheduled start regular hearing on OBC quota next week.CM Mohan Yadav had earlier convened an all-party meeting on August 28, where there was unanimous political support for the 27% OBC quota. The quota for OBCs in MP was raised from 14% to 27% through an ordinance by the previous Congress government under Kamal Nath, which ruled from December 2018 to March 2020. OBCs make up 51.8% of the state’s population. Choice of advocate P Wilson is interesting, considering he comes from TN where reservation for OBCs is 69% and was placed under 9th Schedule — that is cannot be challenged — due to efforts of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa. Wilson as a lawyer for the MP government has set off a political buzz that perhaps a loose alliance of sorts is being worked out between the DMK-TVK and the BJP.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – both have quit the Test and Twenty20 formats — played their last one-day international matches in the ICC Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium. And since then have not played a single competitive match. But both have been included in the Men in Blue ODI team for the three-match series to be played against Australia at Perth, Adelaide and Sydney on October 19, 23 and 25. Sharma is 38 and Kohli will turn 37 next month and by the time the 2027 ICC World Cup arrives they will be older by around two years. The discerning is asking would it not have been wise to give opportunities to Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, who have been in blazing form in the Twenty20 format of the game and played a big part in India’s Asia Cup title triumph putting it across Pakistan in the final at Dubai. The Chairman of the BCCI’s Senior selection committee Ajit Agarkar explained that there is no place in the team for Abhishek because Sharma and Gill will open the innings and Yashasvi Jaiswal “who is such a good player” is on their heels and suggested that Varma may have missed the bus narrowly. Varma played a title winning knock in the final of the Asia Cup against Pakistan. Agarkar also explained that this is not the right time to think about the 50-over World Cup in 2027 and that players will be rotated after the three-match series in Australia. Abhishek and Varma are in the Twenty20 team that will play matches at Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Gold Coast and Brisbane.
India reigned supreme in the first of the two-Test series against the West Indies; it was not unexpected though. Once the team from the Caribbean — known once for its flair and daredevilry and fast bowling — was skittled out for 162 in the first innings and in 44.1 overs, the writing on the wall was clear. It folded up for 146 in the second innings in three and half hours and capitulated to a massive defeat. Quite obviously the team with only a sprinkling of talent and a big vacuum in experience and wherewithal, struggled to cope against a quality seam and spin bowling resources the home team had. Its own bowling suffered in the absence of Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph and the remaining seam and spin bowlers did not possess the class to check the Indian batting department that prospered with three centuries. After being thrashed 3-0 by New Zealand not long ago in a home series, the outcome at the NaMo Stadium was a refreshing change, sustaining the trend of competing hard after the admirable 2-2 result in England. Playing without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, India, led by the young captain Shubman Gill scored a commanding win and it must be hoping to repeat the same at the Ferozeshah Kotla Test starting in a week’s time. The potential of a new spin combination in Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar showed itself, although Sundar will have improved in every match to become dependable. But as a batting allrounder he fits into the team well. After winning the Asia Cup in Dubai, the win in the Test match here proved that India will remain a tough rival across all formats.
TRENDS & VIEWS
Editor’s Note: Short Post Is Here To Stay…
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.”