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.

Dhruv Jurel was the 40th wicket-keeper to be capped in Test cricket by India. He is one of the most fiercely determined cricketers to have emerged from the BCCI’s domestic tournaments in recent times. An aggressive batter, he offered a choice to the national selectors with his multi-skill gifts when Rishabh Pant was rendered hors de combat because of a car crash and his immediate replacement Kona Bharat. Jurel made his debut against England at Rajkot and impressed one and all. In five Test matches he scored 255 runs, missing a first century in the Ranchi Test, bowled by left arm spinner Tom Hartley for 90 with 6x 4s and 4x6s. He played three Tests against England coming in for Bharat after the second Test at Visakhapatnam. Then he kept wicket in the first Test at Perth and did not trouble the scorers getting out to Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins and thereafter he replaced Pant (out with a foot injury) in the fifth Test at the Oval.  And on the second day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad the 24-year-old from Agra, Uttar Pradesh and son of a Kargil War havaldar, became the 12th Indian wicket-keeper to score a century (125, 269 minutes, 210 balls, 15x 4s, 3x6s) and steered his team to a commanding position in the Test. He also became the 6th Indian wicket-keeper to score a century against the West Indies after Vijay Manjrekar (1953), Farokh Engineer (1975), Ajay Ratra (2002, now national selector), M.S. Dhoni (2006) and Wriddhiman Saha (2016). Jurel celebrated his memorable feat with an open palm salute after a half century and Guard of Honour tribute after the century. Super show!

Unified Shiv Sena’s leader Ramdas Kadam has alleged that Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray’s body was kept at Matoshri two days after he died. Kadam said Balasaheb’s finger prints, too, were taken. A former close associate of the Thackeray family, Kadam has switched to the Sena faction of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and since then has been a relentless critic of Uddhav and the Sena (UBT). Kadam made these damning allegations at the Dussehra rally of his party. He has dared Uddhav to prove him false by facing him. Kadam has time and again lambasted Uddhav but his attack on Thursday (Oct 2) against Uddhav was particularly vitriolic. Kadam has demanded that his charges should be investigated by the government and warned Uddhav that he would come out with more damning information which will ‘shake Matoshri.’ Kadam said Uddhav is the only leader who tried to finish the political career of his followers. Kadam reiterated his allegations at a press conference. In one context, the name of veteran leader Sharad Pawar, too, has surfaced. Significantly, no prominent leader belonging to any party has reacted to Kadam’s charges. Most said they were unaware of the circumstances Kadam was talking about. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut came down heavily against Kadam but almost all other leaders have found it wise to keep away from the controversy, at least for the present.

The absence of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder Raj Thackeray at the Dussehra rally organised by Shiv Sena (UBT) has once again created an atmosphere of suspense about two cousins coming together for the coming local body elections in the state. When Uddhav and Raj shared a stage a couple of months ago, those advocating their union were overjoyed, expressing confidence that the duo will sweep the civic election in Mumbai, Thane and in some other important cities. On his part, Uddhav has repeatedly reassured his followers and those wishing the alliance that MNS will stay with his Sena. “We were present on the same dais to tell you that we will be united in the future,” Uddhav said at his rally held at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. Raj Thackeray’s mansion, Shiv Teerth, is just across the park grounds. Many fervently expected Raj to turn up for the public meeting, which was attended by Sainiks in large numbers despite the slush created by rains. As it became clear that the MNS leaders would not arrive, efforts were made to find solace in Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s statement that the other Shiv Teerth, too, should be regarded as ‘ours.’ The Shivaji Park precinct is traditionally described as Shiv Teerth (Pilgrimage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). A few years ago, Raj constructed his second abode opposite Shivaji Park grounds, naming it Shiv Teerth. Hence, the word play, which has failed to end the suspense.

Richard Illingworth — son of the famous Ashes winning captain from Yorkshire, Ray, and a former England left-arm spinner — who joined the ICC panel of umpires in 2013 has officiated in Test matches in India, seven times before the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium. He has been voted as the Umpire of the Year by the ICC in 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024. He has officiated in 10 ODIs in India, including eight in World Cups and in matches featuring India, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand. Currently in the ICC Elite Panel, Illingworth is one of the umpires most respected by players across the world. There are nine overseas umpires who have officiated in more than 10 Tests in India like Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka -14),Richard Kettleborough (England-14) Marias Erasmus (South Africa-10), Ian Gould (England-12), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa-11), Nigel Long (England-12), David Shepherd (England-12), Simon Taufel (Australia-10) and Rod Tucker (Australia-11). The ICC’s decision to go for neutral umpires was trialled in 1992 and it became a permanent feature in 1994; all done to eliminate alleged biased umpiring by home umpires. It began with one neutral umpire, but from 2002, both on-field umpires were nominated from neutral countries. The ICC reverted to the home umpire panel during Covid times before reverting to the neutral panel in 2022. The on-field umpires for the ongoing Test – India-West Indies — are Illingworth and Alex Wharf, also from England. The third umpire, who helps in DRS decisions, is Paul Reiffel from Australia. The match referee is Zimbabwean Andy Pycroft.

Nothing has rattled the Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin more than the NDA team’s visit to assess the Karur incident involving TVK leader and actor Vijay. He charged the BJP of attempting to exploit the Karur stampede, which had claimed 41 lives, for political mileage rather than concern for the state. The NDA team led by Tamil speaking popular actor Hema Malini not only interacted with local people but the visitors have also shot off a letter to CM Stalin seeking department-wise accountability and responsibility for the incident. The letter is signed by one of the eight MPs on the team— former Union Minister Anurag Singh. Annoyed by the quick footed action from the NDA over the stampede, Stalin has claimed that the Centre had never responded when the state was struck by three major disasters that had left thousands suffering. He also charged that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had neither visited immediately nor released funds, but had now chosen instead to go to Karur. Interestingly, the FM had interacted with survivors directly seeking to know first-hand, if the Central assistance of Rs 2 lakhs announced by PM Modi had been credited to their accounts. Stalin sought to know why the BJP had not sent fact-finding committees to probe similar incidents in BJP ruled states like the Manipur internecine clashes or the Kumbh Mela stampede. He felt the NDA team was only being rushed to TN because of the upcoming assembly elections. Interestingly, controversial DMK minister Senthil Balaji held a presser at Karur, post the visit of the NDA team, to counter allegations that his henchmen had triggered the stampede.

KL Rahul gave another exhibition of a “Kadak” knock on a bright day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. The disappointing aspect of his classy undertaking was that he went into the long interval of the second day (lunch) with an exact 100 and on resumption did not add a single to it, slap-driving with his bottom hand directing the ball into the hands of the cover folder. The right hander had demonstrated pluck and patience while facing the debutant left arm spinner Khary Pierre bowling over the wicket, but saw an opportunity to smash the experienced left armed Jomel Warrican bowling from around the wicket and tossing the ball to an inviting off stump line. Rahul whose previous Test centuries were at the Centurion (101) against South Africa and at Leeds (137) and Lord’s (100) against England, was as usual composed and thwarted the attempts of the West Indies attack that has fast bowler Jayden Seales and the experienced off spinner Roston Chase and Warrican. Decisive with his footwork, Rahul struck 12 x 4s in his 197-ball exercise in 12 minutes short of five hours in the middle to make an exact 100; his second home Test century after nearly nine years. He made 199 against England at Chepauk in December 2016. He cut and carved and executed shots in front of the wicket. More importantly he added weight to the first wicket stand of 68 with Yashasvi Jaiswal and 97 with Shubman Gill for the third wicket. Rahul had the wherewithal to keep at bay the spinners who appeared to be getting a grip on the red soil surface. It was a splendid knock from the veteran of 65 Tests -15th at home.

Garlands For Vijay’s Campaign Vehicles, But No Candles For 41 Dead? This year’s Ayudha Pooja in Tamil Nadu was overcast by the heart -rending death toll of 41 lives, including a 2-year old child and a 60 year’s elder at Karur, when the grandstanding campaign presence of TVK Vijay turned into a massive stampede. The country was still reading about this serious death toll and the Tamilian craze to catch a glimpse of a film star. The usual claims of “heart broken”, “I am too numb to process this” and the blame game of who or what caused the human tragedy, flew thick and fast. But wait, who said the Ayudha Pooja celebrations had been cancelled, so this party could pay homage to the dead, even light candles (Vijay is of the Christian faith and even candle were not lit to mourn the dead) . Instead, the pictures of his campaign vehicles fully decorated with Banana saplings and garlands went viral, but not a word of condolence, even as a one man commission of retired Judge Aruna Jagadeesan had been set up to probe the tragedy. Are campaign vehicles and their sanctity more important than human lives? Time and again such death tolls and heart wrenching tragedies happen. Soon, more campaigns and political aspirant pied-pipers will spring up …the star struck public will be wooed to come in large numbers, supplicants and suppliants, blind faith and mindless following just ripe for more such disasters.

Apollo Tyres with a reported revenue of $ 3.1 billion for 2025 seems to have made a winning start — displaying its brand name by way of front-of-shirt advertisement in India’s senior men cricketers seen in action against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The women in blue playing the ICC Women’s World Cup are likely to sport a new top with the Apollo Tyres brand in the second match against Pakistan in Colombo, but the tyre company has set off with a smooth run with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in action for 14 overs each on the first day of the first Test. The company has signed a record deal worth around Rs 580 crore up to March 2028. Apollo Tyres replaced Dream XI as the front of shirt sponsors after the Union government outlawed real-money online games in the country. The focus was on India’s 11 players on the field after the West Indies chose to bat winning the toss. By tea time India’s new ball operators in Bumrah (3 wkts) and Siraj (4 wkts) were calling the shots. Siraj is taking the centre for the team in flannels with Bumrah not at his very best because of a nagging back. The live wire from Charminar city scythed through the West Indies top order and Bumrah came into his own in the third spell of six overs plus in which he bowled at 140 kmph plus to uproot the stumps of two West Indies batters. With Mohammed Shami not in the reckoning, Siraj with 100 plus Test wickets is seen as an ideal foil to Bumrah and all set to even don the bowling leadership cap, very soon!

Who would have imagined that India would be playing a home Test in October 2025 without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami? It’s a reality Indian cricket has accepted though Shami (64 Tests, 229 welts) is yet to retire. Once the team management hinted that he may not be in the scheme of things, Ashwin (106 Tests, 537 wickets) bid adieu to international cricket in the course of the five Test series in Australia. And after the series, Kohli (123 Tests, 9230 runs) and Sharma (67 Tests, 4301 runs) followed suit. Kohli played his last at Sydney and Sharma stepped back from the team owing to lack of form after the Melbourne Test. Kohli was India’s bulwark and run machine at the middle order and Sharma was sort of an unconventional opener looking to go after the leather from the word go. Ashwin was of course a great match winner for India at home. It’s not just these three, the selectors had conveyed that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were expendable and would find it difficult to get a recall and so Pujara announced his retirement from all cricket. Rahane has not yet and he has chosen to play another season of domestic cricket. Of course, Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired a long time ago. Clearly the 0-3 defeat in the home series against New Zealand and nothing much to show for displays in Australia hastened the exit from the centre stage by Kohli and Sharma. Indian cricket has seen the captaincy mantle piece change from Sharma to Shubman Gill. Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul are the last two remaining of the Kohli-Sharma era still playing Test cricket. But what a change in a short span of time!

Skipper Roton Chase won the toss in the 48th Test between the West Indies and India in India. With the tall and slenderly built Chase calling correctly the toss-win scores levelled itself with both teams winning 24 each. It’s an interesting trivia, but Chase would be disappointed with his team’s batting display, skittled out for 162, some 16 minutes before tea-time. After a fascinating India-England series in England that ended in a 2-2 stalemate, India’s fast medium bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, accustomed to manipulate the SG Test ball got into the act accounting for seven dismissals — Siraj four and Bumrah three. They sent down 14 overs each and conceded 82 runs together and struck blows to provide their team an opportunity to take control of the first Test. There was much talk about workload management for Bumrah, but he bowled three spells -the breakdown being 6 with the new ball, two starting from the 21st over and six overs starting from the 33rd over. Post the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney early this year, Bumrah has been far from his best, playing only three Tests in the series against England. In such a scenario, Siraj lifted his effort and commitment taking 23 wickets at 32.43. Bumrah pitched in with one scalp in his opening burst of half a dozen overs. Then Siraj produced a lovely off stump line delivery to eject a stoical Chase from the middle after which Bumrah showed his “yorker-length” class and calibre as the visitor folded up in under four and a half hours. With more than 12 sessions remaining, India has given itself a chance to go up in the opening Test.

Glimpses of the public’s dwindling interest in the multi-day Test cricket in India were evident on the first day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday (Oct 2). Even given the fact that the locals were partaking with gusto on the ninth night of the Navratri festivities, it did not convince the discerning followers of the traditional format that there would be a bigger turnout when India’s turn arrives to bat. There were hardly 500 spectators at the stadium, which is well-connected by a railway metro service to the main gate of the stadium. The rebuilt stadium can hold over one lakh spectators, and the locals have shown a bias towards white-ball cricket during the IPL matches and bilateral international series. Fifteen Test matches have been played at the venue with the inaugural match between India and the West Indies in the winter of 1983. According to local sports journalist and scorer Tushar Trivedi, around 10000 spectators had shown up on the first day of the inaugural Test at a locality in Motera. The West Indies, led by Clive Lloyd, won the Test by 138 runs after fast bowler Wayne Daniel took 5 for 39 in the first innings and Michael Holding took 4 for 30 in the second.  Sunil Gavaskar made 90 in the first innings and Kapil Dev took 9 for 83 in the second innings. After that defeat in 1983, five months after India had brought down the mighty Kings of ODI cricket in the Prudential World Cup final at Lord’s, India lost one more Test (to South Africa). India has won six Tests and drawn seven.

Wesley Hall and Roy Gilchrist! India’s old-time cricketing aficionados recall the hostile fast bowling of these two deadly men who operated with the new ball and old, and made batters quiver in their boots. If the first West Indies tour of India of the 1948-49 series was memorable for the batting displays of Everton Weekes (779 runs) and Clyde Walcott (452 runs), their next visit for the 1958-59 series was made unforgettable by the lethal bowling of Hall and Gilchrist. Hall took 30 wickets in five Tests at 17.67 and Gilchrist bagged 27 wickets at 16.12 and the great allrounder Garry Sobers sending down left-arm fast medium took 10 wickets for a grand tally of 67 by the three. As a result, the West Indies led by Gerry Alexander won the five Test series 3-0. These two were perhaps the first pair of fast bowlers who hunted down the Indian batters on home soil. Nine years later in the 1966-67 series that was won by the West Indies 2-0, off-spinner Lance Gibbs (18 wickets) and Sobers (14) remained prominent and then on the 1974-75 series Andy Roberts – the admirable fast bowler whom Sunil Gavaskar reckons as the quickest – took 32 wickets. Roberts finished with 37 wickets in India, one lower than Hall’s 38. Others like the great Malcom Marshall (36 wickets), Michael Holding (30), and Winston Davis (27) impressed to outplay India at home. Gilchrist took 27, Vanburn Holder 25, Sobers 24 and Sylvester Clarke 21 as a total of 44 West Indies fast bowlers contributed to the 528-wicket haul on Indian soil. But according to the old timers, the pair in Hall and Gilchrist have to be the best!

Shubman Gill was calm and composed at his second press conference in India as captain of the Test match team. The 25-year-old young Turk from the Punjab plains was an unknown in Test cricket when named the captain of the five-Test series in England. The BCCI’s senior national selection committee zeroed in on him once Jasprit Bumrah conveyed to the BCCI and the selection committee that he will be available to play only in three Tests in England because of his nagging back. Gill surprised one and all with his solid and spectacular undertaking with the bat scoring 754 runs with four centuries including a double of 269 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Much against the odds Gill went on to baulk the home team and return home with a praiseworthy 2-2 draw thus earning two full World Championship points winning at Edgbaston and the Oval. Gill, now 26, put an end to all talk about his captaincy and is all set for a long run, maybe across formats in the foreseeable future. At  the press conference room at the Narendra Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday, Gill looked assured and careful with what he said fielding questions from the media. Familiar to the locals as captain of the Gujarat Titans team in the IPL, Gill will open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and he will be eager to make his bat talk facing the West Indies attack that will be spearheaded by fast bowler Jayden Seales. Gill is a rare talent who has come good in Test cricket, one-day internationals and Twenty20. From tomorrow till mid-November, he will get four Tests to win the WTC points.

With at least 41 people getting killed in a stampede at a political rally in Karur organised by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor Vijay, a lot has changed in Tamil Nadu politics. The tragedy has completely rewritten the way Vijay can do politics in the state. It seems he cannot afford to go solo and needs to hitch his bandwagon to an alliance. May be the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Or some third alliance. Or else he may find crushed by the DMK. At least, three days after the stampede Vijay conceded that the stampede was a conspiracy that should have never happened. It is being said the stampede has so shattered the confidence of his followers and his workers that in a video message to CM MK Stalin, Vijay sought to know if the ruling party was seeking revenge. Clearly the DMK was unsettled by the kind of response he was getting from people. With a huge fan following, Vijay was not willing to have an alliance with the AIADMK. During his initial talks with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) he had demanded that he be projected as CM. After the Karur incident, Vijay knows he needs friends desperately. To be fair, EPS promptly came out in his support. Former TN BJP chief K Annamalai pointed out that the presence of 400 cops at Vijay’s rally was inadequate. With Vijay seeking a CBI probe into the incident via petition in Madras High Court, it is important that he builds bridges with the Centre. It is learnt that Home Minister Amit Shah also reached out to Vijay. Meanwhile, TN Congress leaders are puzzled that Rahul Gandhi should even call up Vijay. That too when nine Cong MPs had met CM Stalin to discuss their constituency work only last week. Was the Congress deliberately misleading people about TN alliances?

The greatest fear as the findings of the probe into the Air India crash are awaited is that the manufacturer would somehow fix the blame on pilot error or human error to account for the tragedy. Selective leaks from the preliminary report carry plenty of evidence of where the probe may be headed as Boeing’s reputation, already in tatters after the crashes of the Boeing Max aircraft, is set to hit a nadir. Diversionary tactics of shifting the blame to the pilot have been spotted, including in a visit to the father of one of the pilots of the ill-fated Boeing Dreamliner by personnel attached to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) that was way out of protocol. They were guilty of insinuating to Pushkar Raj Sabharwal that his son Captain Sumeet Sabharwal may have turned off the plane’s fuel switches. That they came pretending to offer condolences made the story even worse. The preliminary investigation report released in July had noted that both the airplane’s fuel switches moved from “run” to “cutoff” position within a second of each other moments after the take-off from Ahmedabad airport. The report also suggested there was confusion in the cockpit without clarifying whether the pilots had deliberately moved the switches. It would suit the aviation industry to blame the event on human error while also serving Boeing’s legal woes in compensation to victims which could be scaled down if this was not an accident, the first for the Dreamliner series, caused by mechanical failure. The Supreme Court had also described portions of the AAIB report as “unfortunate and irresponsible” as they allowed (misleading) media narrative to take shape besides compromising the dignity and privacy of victims’ families.

The DP Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has overwhelmingly encapsulated the bad blood between the rabid followers of the game across the border and the diaspora of the India and Pakistan hue in the world. The social media – largely Indian – has been bellicose and proactive in the days leading to the eight-nation tournament in which the Suryakumar Yadav team has remained unbeaten. Many, following the Pahalgam terror attack on Indians, did not want the men in blue team to lock horns with Pakistan, but with India (read BCCI) being the host nation, a boycott against Pakistan was an improbable event to happen! The Indian team chose to respond in a different way though; it did not even bother to accept “well done” greetings from the Pakistan players or extend their hands to them in the two “blockbuster and money spinning” matches featuring the two teams in the tournament. The ICC intervened when matters went a bit out of control and three players — India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Shahibzada Farhan — were censured for their comments and gestures resembling politics. India outplayed Pakistan in the Preliminary and Super4 matches which brought joy to the Indian fans and angered the Pakistan fans and hoped for a turnaround in the final which the BCCI officials chose to see on the small screen after their Annual General Meeting in Mumbai. The Asia Cup Twenty20 in the UAE has shown that ‘encounters’ between the two in sports arenas will be far from cordial in the future including the women’s in the World Cup clash in Colombo.

It has become rather hard to classify a film star politician or a politician drawing massive crowds as a star in the South. At least two deputy CMs of significant states have added value to their Star status…Udhayanidhi Stalin and Pawan Kalyan. Pawan Kalyan’s just released film, They Call Him OG, is setting all kinds of records for crowds drawn, collections at box office and the craze for the actor politician. In just two days, OG swept in Rs 200 crore globally. Trade analysts are busy with their matrix of comparison with other “hits”. We in India are quite familiar with cinema and star craze. But Germany had a shocking incident …a poster of Pawan Kalyan was bathed in milk in public and incensed the Germans, who were angry about such low-level civic sense. In a Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh) cinema, a huge garland on the hero’s poster caught fire and people ran helter-skelter. But such over the top intense hero worship is par for the course in a star struck ecosystem. If the star is a weighty politician, the frenzy and celebrity fever only intensifies. Despite record-breaking collections, critics have cautiously slammed the plot and the film. But then do critics matter? When you lead a mammoth fan club, the film just flaunts the Hero…and all is in the well at the Box Office. Keep your hold on those fans …the magic formula.

Mumbai is undergoing a massive scale up of its housing sector housing including for its 41% slum dweller population. This includes over 910 buildings undergoing redevelopment that could add up 44,277 new homes by 2030, as per real estate analyst Knight Frank report. About 809 high rises (above 40 floors) have been approved in the city that currently has about 252 skyscrapers and another 416 under construction as per a Bombay High Court appointed expert committee on high risers. Besides these, about 541 acres of land is being used for rehousing Dharavi residents including 124 acres of the Deonar dumping ground and 254 acres of salt pan land, that essentially helps prevent flooding by sponging water. A recent report found about 6021.50 acres of land in Mumbai, almost 17.71% of its total habitable land, belonging to the state and central government, being unlocked for development. This includes about 2,068.59 acres being used for rehousing slum dwellers under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. Experts though are far from convinced about this model of development. “Mumbai’s development is entirely unplanned and piecemeal, lacking coordinated growth in roads, water supply, and sewerage systems. It is not supported by essential social infrastructure like schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds, or even trees, and therefore does little to make the city more liveable,” notes architect and urban planner Alan Abraham. “Instead, it risks creating a saturated, overbuilt Mumbai that will ultimately be unsustainable,” he adds.

This one is quite known for hill temples. This has two hill temples – one for Lord Yoga Narasimhan and another for Lord Anjaneya. The temple for Lord Narasimhan is a part of the 108 Divya Desam temples. The temple town of Sholinghur near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu has a plant of Brakes India, once a part of the composite TVS group. Grapevine has it that a jasmine extraction plant is being planned here. The proposed plant is reported to be blessed by this organisation. Jasmine extracts have huge export opportunities for making perfumes, medicines etc. Tamil Nadu Agri budget also has announced the setting up of such facilities. It is learnt that Brakes India plant in Sholingur has thousands of employees. They are encouraged to cultivate jasmine and other natural ingredients in their lands for supplying to the extraction plant to produce aroma diffusers, essential oils and cosmetic intermediaries for tapping the big export market in Europe. Brakes India is promoted by the TSF Group, whose heritage dates back to 1911. The 10000-plus employee company led by Sriram Viji has manufacturing plants in 21 locations and earned a revenue of $910 mn. The group’s interests span the automotive and financial services sectors. Well, this new plant has the blessings of the Lords, it appears.

Janhvi Kapoor has carved a distinctive space in Hindi cinema by consistently balancing content‑driven performances with mainstream, masala entertainers. From early hits like Dhadak to more challenging outings such as Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Milli and Good Luck Jerry, her choices have demonstrated a willingness to oscillate between star‑led commercial projects and single‑minded, performance‑oriented films. That versatility has kept her visible: even when her filmography lacks a long list of commercial blockbusters, endorsements, a strong social‑media presence and curated publicity have ensured she remains in the public eye. What sets Janhvi apart is her readiness to embrace markedly different screen personas. On one hand, she takes on glamorous, crowd‑pleasing roles in big‑banner potboilers that rely on charm, song-and-dance and mass appeal. On the other, she accepts taxing, festival‑friendly parts that foreground craft over gloss. Her recent internationally lauded turn in Homebound — playing a marginalized, complex character — has won critical praise and is India’s Official Oscar entry, while her work in more commercial fare continues to draw mainstream attention. This duality is not accidental: it’s a strategic blend that expands her range and broadens her audience. Her upcoming releases further underscore this balance. The Dussehra‑timed Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari positions her in an ultra‑glamorous, high‑energy entertainer aimed at wide family audiences, even as her involvement in arthouse projects keeps her relevant on the festival circuit. Few contemporary actresses manage this tightrope so consistently: to command box‑office visibility while also earning critical credibility. By alternating between mass entertainers and serious, performance‑led films, Janhvi has ensured simultaneous traction in both columns — critical appreciation and commercial promise — keeping her career lively and versatile.

After Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu now language war erupts in Odisha. The tug of war about signboard language is already heating up in Odisha just like other states. Trade bodies and shop keepers representing commercial establishments are now on the frontlines of Odia language imposition tussle. The labour and ESI department in Odisha have swung into action issuing over 1606 show cause notices to commercial establishments for not displaying their outlets name in Odia language boldly. This has been confirmed by Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia’s in the Assembly this week. Out of 1606 served show cause notices, 100 owners have been issued show cause notices for repeating the violations with Jharsuguda and Khurda district taking the lead followed by Balasore in Odisha. From Odisha state’s point of view, giving importance to Odia language isn’t just about words, it’s about keeping Odisha’s identity and history alive. The government’s immediate objectives are two-fold: introducing amendments to reinforce states’ commitment to Odia language preservation, two promote pride in Odia language and culture just like other states have done to preserve their local languages. To push compliance, the state government’s Labour and ESI departments are organizing rallies to raise awareness of this issue. As an incentive for compliance, the Odisha government has offered a 5% discount on trade license renewals for shops and commercial establishments that follow the rule using Odia script.

With the authorities certifying the Mumbai Metro-3 Aqua Line safe for operations, a red-letter day will dawn soon in the metropolis as lakhs of commuters will be able to save precious time day in and day out. The average Mumbaikar is accustomed to spending at least five hours daily, commuting between home and the place of work. The journey in overcrowded suburban trains and overloaded BEST buses becomes more arduous. All that will be past as henceforth, the travel between SEEPZ in Andheri (E) and Cuffe Parade at the extreme end of south Mumbai will be less than 30 minutes, in AC comfort. The service frequency will run a train every three minutes. The Aqua route will be completely underground save one station. While its 26 stations will be below ground, the Aarey Colony station will be at grade. This means it will be at ground level and hence visible. Metro Line 3 will utilize a critical Tunnel Ventilation and Environmental Control System (TVE) to ensure passenger comfort and safety, including 24×7 cooling, fresh air supply and smoke extraction during fire emergencies. This technologically advanced system lowers tunnel temperatures, removes harmful gases and controls smoke in the world’s most modern underground rail network. The line’s commissioning had been planned much earlier but the COVID pandemic and allied developments have delayed the project. 

This soft gentle hero, R Madhavan has travelled all the way from a Jamshedpur TamBrahm middle class upbringing to the giddying heights of Bollywood and Kollywood with an untarnished reputation. He also made box office history with strong story line plots of love, sentiment and family bonds, and directed a few patriotic films. His biopic Rocketry: The Nambi Effect on Nambi Narayanan, was warmly received. In a recent media interaction, Madhavan decoded his strategy for choosing between “financial stability and making Good films”. If the overriding concern is financial stability, you tend to grab every film that falls your way …but choosing good films can happen only if you are financially secure. Profound or trite? With Madhavan there is no Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde stand. This clean-cut hero has come a long way to make his home in Dubai. And that not to be missed trapping…he is the proud owner of a yacht. “There is buzz that I own a ship …nothing of the sort…it is just a Rs 16 crore 75 feet pleasure boat”. There is also talk that Maddy has dabbled in real estate and owns property in Mumbai. Sensible, down to earth middle-class values …use your money in sensible ways, not prowl for instant wealth. He does remind you of Dhoni who succeeded enough to make his name a brand with his outstanding play, quietly made his millions…balanced fame and fortune, curated. Dhoni and Maddy are like peas of the same pod …humble, practical and at the end of the day poster boys for middle class ethos, not razzmatazz power play.

“My heart has broken, I am in unbearable, inexplicable pain and grief,” actor-politician Vijay said in his first reaction after tragedy had struck hours earlier in the form of a stampede that took 41 lives at TVK’s rally. Meanwhile, a campaign had taken off in Tamil Nadu to place the blame entirely on the actor whose political movement is attracting so many people on his weekend visits to various places in the state that it has become quite a political phenomenon not seen in the cinema-crazed state for decades now. The government put out an immediate message to journalists about inexperienced organisers not following rules or instructions, how Vijay came seven hours late to the venue leading to restlessness and the actor not taking any responsibility and running away from the spot. Be that as it may, this avoidable tragedy was everyone’s fault, including that of Vijay’s unruly fans of whom much has been said in the two weeks since he began his political campaign. The administration has been placing 25 restrictions on his meetings and even if he faithfully follows all of them, there is no saying when a mad following will burst the controls and surge towards the magnetic star as they did that night in Karur when the stampede that everyone had feared took place. Police control over the crowds in his rally have been very lax too. His political foray having snowballed into a GenZ phenomenon, Vijay will have to be cautious on how he can control the crowds that he is attracting, and which is drawing political envy and fear as well.

India’s stunning win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final and refusal of Congress leaders particularly Rahul Gandhi to acknowledge it has become an intense subject of political scrutiny. The BJP was quick to point out that it was perhaps similar to how the main Opposition party couldn’t congratulate the Indian Army for its stupendous strike during Operation Sindoor. Party’s I-T chief Amit Malviya in a post even suggested that the Congress was perhaps “waiting for permission from Pak minister Mohsin Naqvi and their other handlers in the neighbouring country” before joining the nation in celebrating the Indian cricket team’s success. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi said “both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra should keep sports separate from politics”, as they did not give any reaction to India’s victory over Pakistan. He said that the Congress and the opposition alliance are always ready to side with Pakistan at every level be it sports or diplomacy and this is their true identity. He pointed out it was India’s 9th victory in the Asia Cup. In this tournament, India defeated Pakistan three times consecutively. The Indian team made a clean sweep by winning all the matches in this Asia Cup. For this, the Indian cricket team, its captain Surya Kumar Yadav, and all the fellow players certainly deserve congratulations. PM Modi tweeted “Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same — India wins!. Congrats to our cricketers.”

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was spearheading the demand for statehood for Ladakh and had been on an indefinite fast for 15 days, has been arrested. Wangchuk’s journey from thanking PM Modi for granting Ladakh’s UT status in August 2019 to inciting violence that left four people dead as recently as September 25 symbolises the dangers of political opportunism and external manipulation. Thousands of people had come out and indulged in arson and stoning. Local BJP office was set on fire. Wangchuk called off his indefinite fast soon after the violence spread. It is worth mentioning that the Centre had scheduled October 6 for talks between the agitators and the high-powered committee. Previously, informal talks were scheduled to begin on September 26. Despite these firm assurances, the agitators resorted to arson and violence. It’s not easy to understand the logic behind it. BJP leaders allege that Congress instigated the violence because the party wanted to create a “Nepal-type” situation in India. Why does Wangchuk now raise hackles in India’s power circles? One it is his close and continuing association with foreign funded LEAD India and International Association for Ladakh Studies. His climate project ICE STUPAS faced criticism from the locals for being unsustainable. His recent calls to halt the Army’s infrastructure projects in Ladakh citing climate concerns have sparked serious unease. Besides his American wife Rebecca Norman and her connection with Ford Foundation and Soros’s Open Societies have been a matter of concern. In 2023, Wangchuk began his outdoor hunger strikes, demanding “constitutional safeguards” like inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. It is unbelievable that the engineer-innovator Wangchuk who had developed solar power tents for Indian Army and inspired actor Aamir Khan’s character Phunsukh Wangdu in the popular film Three Idiots, is being portrayed as a NGO person using foreign funds– to undermine the country.

With Bihar assembly elections around the corner, both the BJP and the Congress were seen wooing women voters. While PM Modi reached out to women in Bihar via video conference from Delhi, formally launching the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana that promised to reach out to 75 lakh women across the state. Under the scheme, women would receive Rs 10,000 each through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their bank accounts. Modi described the initiative as a transformative step for entrepreneurship among rural women. In his address, PM Modi said the scheme was possible because of the Jan Dhan financial inclusion programme launched 11 years ago. He called the scheme part of the government’s effort to make women “Lakhpati Didis” — women earning at least Rs 1 lakh a year — under the central government’s campaign to create 3 crore such women nationwide. The launch of the Rs 10,000 scheme by PM Modi clearly upset the Congress and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. For a party that has come to power in two southern states — Telangana and Karnataka — on the basis of guarantees it was odd that Priyanka even questioned the basis of DBT pay-outs in Bihar and its timing. Speaking to groups of women, she said the promise of Rs 10,000 so close to elections was a transparent attempt to secure votes. Why didn’t BJP give you Rs 10,000 for the last 20 years. Priyanka announced a Congress poll promise of granting land ownership to women. She said every landless family in Bihar would receive 3 to 5 decimals of land, and that ownership titles would be in the names of women.

Even as torrential rains ravaged drought hit regions of Maharashtra causing much destruction, the state is stuck in limbo unable to help its farmers. With state debts crossing Rs 9.32 lakh crore, the state is struggling to deal with this natural calamity of this scale and is now looking at the Centre for aid. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis rushed to Delhi to present his case but hasn’t yet got anything concrete in hand. Till then the government has been trying to play with numbers to dissipate agrarian anger. The Rs 2215 crore aid package announced for farmers turned out to be the release of pending aid for earlier damage assessments. For the 31.64 lakh farmers in the state, this would have just meant Rs 7000 per head, pointed out farmer leaders. Insensitive gestures like plastering mugshots on aid kits as done by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde generated more uproar than goodwill. Umpteen ministerial visits lacking concrete assurances after being ordered by the CM, also aggravated public sentiments on the subject. Unrelenting media coverage and backlash from the opposition members only added to the state discomfiture. The opposition is pushing for complete loan waiver for farmers and aid of Rs 50,000 per hectare. Incidentally, it took Uddhav Thackeray, who always gets accused of operating from his home, to get the government to step up in action. He demanded that the Centre dig into the Prime Minister’s Care Fund to help farmers. State Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal wondered how the state fell short of funds only for aiding farmers and never for funding its mega projects.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has asserted that he will stay in the state for the full term of five years. Talking to senior editors at the India Today Conclave in Mumbai, Fadnavis reiterated that he is making this statement since he is conversant with the way the BJP takes important decisions. Fadnavis is considered a front-runner to take up the BJP’s presidency and media speculation has been rife on this count. Rejecting any such possibility, he said the successor to present BJP president JP Nadda will be a staunch follower of the RSS ideology. Nadda has been given extensions amidst reports that the RSS and the BJP are still to agree on the next incumbent of the single largest political party in the world. Taking a dig at the media forecasts, Fadnavis said he was amazed to read some of the names mentioned to be in the race. Fadnavis has also discounted reports that a discord exists between him and deputy CM Eknath Shinde. He said, “During my first tenure, Shinde was in my cabinet. Later, I became deputy CM in his cabinet. Now, the position has reversed again. We are working in close coordination and there is no substance in the reports that we are at loggerheads.” Fadnavis has been the focus of opposition criticism for some time on different issues and it has been suggested obliquely that some of his cabinet colleagues are fomenting unrest against him. Hence, his unambiguous assertion about leading the state for the full term is likely to dampen any such attempts, if they are made in reality.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has once again turned Durga Puja into a campaign arena and cultural outreach, leaving Opposition parties scrambling to match her scale. While the BJP views the festival as a potential political weapon, Mamata has neutralised it, ensuring the celebrations remain firmly under her influence. Over the past seven years, the number of Puja committees spanning Kolkata and remote districts has grown from 28,000 to 45,000. Likewise, the financial support during the same period has also scaled up from Rs 10,000 to Rs 110,000 this year alongside electricity bill waivers. In effect, Mamata expanded her reach from Cooch Behar to Kakdwip as chief patron of the festivities. During the Left Front era, the CPI(M) maintained organisational control in several spheres but deliberately kept a distance from Puja. Leaders like late Subhash Chakraborty occasionally engaged, but the party never made the festival a political stage. This allowed Mamata, post-2011, to steadily enlarge her presence, transforming Puja inaugurations into high-visibility public relations opportunities. Even Opposition leaders like BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari seldom attended Puja inaugurations in Kolkata or districts, leaving the party largely absent from major events. Apart from Sajol Ghosh in Kolkata, BJP has no significant foothold. Initially questioned in courts, these grants have been strategically tied to Bengali cultural identity, intertwining Durga Puja with heritage and pride recognized by UNESCO, effectively transforming the festival into both a cultural and political instrument. Didi has also expanded the Puja arena not only through grants but the puja idol immersion carnival inspired by Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, now institutionalised and set for Red Road on October 5.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is finding himself in troubled waters for his two recent statements. Firstly, Pawar told agitated flood victims in no uncertain terms a couple of days ago, “You can make any claims but money can’t become available unless you have it.” He was interacting with the aggrieved farmers who have been demanding substantial assistance since they have lost everything in the current flooding calamity in many parts of the state. His candid admission has caused consternation, some of which is political. Pawar has been called insensitive by his detractors. Secondly, Pawar’s assertion that reservations should be based on an applicant’s economic status has invited ire by his closest associate, firebrand leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who has been championing the OBC reservation cause. Bhujbal said the reservations was not a Garibi Hatao programme but it was a measure to uplift the communities that have been backward socially. Bhujbal’s vocal opposition has once again bared the split in the polity of Maharashtra. At the core of the conflict is the state government’s recent resolution to grant ‘Kunabi’ status to Marathas, which is considered a higher caste on the social spectrum. Bhujbal has not minced his words in the past, either. So far, Pawar has not reacted to his outburst. But either way, the reservation issue is bound to have repercussions in the coming local body elections that will determine the shape of the politics in Maharashtra.  

Ahead of assembly elections in Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the BJP has deployed several Union ministers to take charge of these states’ elections. For Bihar, the BJP has appointed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as its election in-charge. Alongside him, Union Minister CR Paatil and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya have also been named as co-in charges. Significantly, Pradhan and Maurya are prominent OBC leaders. With the Congress trying to play catch up with the NDA in OBC politics by releasing a resolution for Most Backward Classes or Atipichda Nyay Sankalp at its recent Patna CWC meeting, it is interesting that the BJP managers are prominent OBC leaders. The Bihar Legislative Assembly election for all 243 seats is scheduled for October–November 2025. The previous polls were held in October–November 2020, after which the NDA formed the government with Nitish Kumar as chief minister. In August 2022, JD(U) broke ties with the NDA and joined the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, only to return to the BJP-led NDA in January 2024, once again installing Nitish Kumar as CM. For West Bengal, the BJP has appointed Union Minister Bhupender Yadav as its election in-charge. Former Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb has been named as co-incharge. It is important to note that the BJP has appointed senior leader Baijayant Panda as election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, while Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has been named as co-incharge. Party sources feel the choice of Panda for TN assumes significance as he was credited for turning around BJP’s fortune’s in Delhi and wresting the state from AAP this year. It is quite possible that the party leadership has similar expectations from him in the southern state too.

A fresh feud is taking shape in the family of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, following a cryptic post by his daughter Rohini Acharya, who had donated her kidney to her father in 2022. While Tej Pratap has been sulking ever since father expelled him from the party earlier this year, Rohini who has been nursing political ambitions, raised eyebrows with a series of cryptic tweets in the past few days. Rohini, 47, wrote X: “I have been performing my duties as a daughter and a sister and will continue to do so. Neither am I hankering after a post nor do I have any political ambitions.” A medical graduate who chose to be a homemaker and settled with her husband in Singapore, Rohini first came to the limelight in 2022 when she donated a kidney to her father, who was in need of a transplant. Last year, she made an unsuccessful electoral debut from Saran constituency, which was represented by her father long ago. Speculations were rife that she wanted to try her luck again, in the upcoming assembly polls but got a cold shoulder from brother Tejashwi.  Her brother’s refusal to accommodate her in state polls, made her attack his close aide – tech savvy Sanjay Yadav– a Haryana born leader Rajya Sabha since April 2024. He was introduced to Tejashwi by Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav. It is not clear if it was Sanjay Yadav’s idea to restrict “kith & kin” in ticket distribution. Whatever it is, the family feud is worrying the Congress — a key ally which is holding the CWC meeting in Patna on September 24. Meanwhile, to openly project Tejashwi as CM, Congress will look for some decent seat share.

Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai is once again in focus. The buzz in Chennai BJP is that he is probably working for the DMK. Or else it is inexplicable that after being cajoled into coordinating with his party colleagues by senior BJP leader BL Santosh — he had even dropped by Annamalai’s residence only last week — and had promised to work for the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Party sources say he was found liaising over the weekend with a breakaway AIADMK faction – TTV Dhinkaran’s AMMK — which he had insisted must be re-inducted into the NDA. This development so upset the state unit that TN BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran rushed to Delhi to meet BJP national president JP Nadda. It was felt Annamalai could be reaching out to Dhinakaran as part of Home Minister Amit Shah’s general advice to ensure BJP presence in southern districts of TN. But does that mean Shah would signal Annamalai to wreck the very foundation of BJP’s ties with the AIADMK and the understanding reached with party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS)?  Possibly not. Party insiders feel Annamalai was most likely acting on his own as he   expressed regret over Dhinakaran’s exclusion from the alliance. Sources say Annamalai is determined to weaken AIADMK chief EPS and split the BJP-AIADMK alliance. All this is being done with an eye to benefit the incumbent DMK, which is bound to benefit from a split in non-DMK votes. It is also possible he may be driving AIADMK, in desperation, towards the actor Vijay-led TVK. He wants to take revenge on EPS and prevent him from becoming CM in 2026.Within BJP, he is targeting his successor Nainar Nagenthran.

What an irony that Mithun Manhas, a sub-committee member appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to administrator cricket in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), is to be elected as President (unopposed) of the BCCI itself! Those who call the shots at the BCCI, a financial behemoth, surprised one and all by choosing to back Manhas for the post of President and five more to its three-year Apex Council. The 45-year-old Manhas, born in Jammu and Kashmir, was not lucky to play for India, but he has ticked a handful of weighty boxes; he is a 157-match first class cricketer for Delhi and J&K, turned out in big numbers in limited over matches and Twenty20, was contracted by three IPL teams as player, coached a handful of IPL teams and the Bangladesh under-19 team. His latest role is “Member, Cricket operations and Development” JKCA. The question is “Does he receive any honorarium” from JKCA? Manhas was one among the few, but well-known like Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Raghuram Bhat and Jaydev Shah in the 35-card electoral list and hence eligible to contest elections. And at the residence of a Union Minister in New Delhi on Saturday (Sep 20) some influential members of the BCCI proposed Manhas and five others for different posts. The discerning in the BCCI – past and present administrators- feel that the Supreme Court validated Reforms-in-Cricket incorporated in the BCCI Constitution has eliminated the democratic process of an election. Elections did not take place in 2019 and 2022 and when vacancies were created for three posts from November 2024. But with Manhas set to become President on September 28, the trend of cricketers becoming BCCI Presidents continues.

Face the stark truth. Every step that Donald Trump takes will be against Latinos or Indians. All this talk about “My good friend Modi” is beginning to grate in the ears. And in one fell swoop, the U.S. President has now hit Indians in the stomach with his punitive annual fee of $1,00,000 (nearly Rs 90 lakhs) on H-1B visas. The move will hit all those who take these visas to work in the U.S. but consider the fact that Indians take over 70% of such visas granted every year in the H-1B visa lottery (Chinese less than 2%) and you know who the worst hit will be. It is becoming easy to see through this good-cop-bad-cop act that Trump was running with his aides like Navarro and Lutnick berating India at every turn while the U.S president speaks lovingly of India and its PM Modi. The trade talks may have been resumed but the U.S. well knows that India will not let two red lines be breached. Opening the agriculture sector is a no-no forever while the buying of Russian oil will go on till everything else is agreed upon and a trade deal is on the table ready to be signed.  No amount of posturing is going to change the fundamental position that Trump has taken against India and with Pakistan, partly because Pakistan played up to him and even invested in his family cryptocurrency business. Trump may not forget in a hurry the image of Vladimir Putin inviting Narendra Modi into his limousine in China even if he himself did share a limo ride with the Russian President in Alaska. If anyone believes things can be sorted with Trump and the U.S. soon, they may have other thoughts coming up.