The Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is one clear candidate in the reckoning who wishes to be elevated as the next BJP President. He is so coveting the top job that it is being said that both he and family are invoking blessings of the gods to secure it. On an official visit last week to Vellore, Tamil Nadu Chouhan was seen along with his wife Sadhna Singh offering special prayers at Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple in Vellore. The buzz in party circles is that the idea of offering prayers could probably be Sadhna Singh’s idea as she has been keen that Chouhan get more heft in his career by making a switch to an important party post. His family clearly sees that he would perhaps be wielding far more clout as BJP chief than as a member of the Modi Cabinet 3.0. As a four-term Madhya Pradesh CM and a prominent OBC face he would certainly fit the bill. Chouhan had also met with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Officially Chouhan has maintained that he “never ever thought of nor has anyone told me.  I can’t even think of it. I am the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister. I am doing this work like worship. Serving farmers is worship of God for me and I want to keep doing this worship.” He moved to the Centre as a Union Minister only after securing Madhya Pradesh for a record fifth time in 2023 assembly polls. In Vellore, he participated in Maha Chandi Havan for world peace.

Both Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar (DKS) are locked in an intense battle to wrest control of the State. Siddaramaiah fancies he will continue as the CM because of the loyalty and support of the majority of 138 elected Congress MLAs in 224 member House. DKS feels he should be the CM since as PCC chief he had ensured that the Congress swept to power in the 2023 assembly elections. Besides, DKS is confident that High Command will back him. It may be recalled when he was jailed in a ED case and Sonia Gandhi had visited him in Tihar.  If DKS plays the High Command card, Siddaramaiah is no push over either. As a CM, he is dangling the Cabinet reshuffle card to keep MLAs by his side. He also used his MLC son Dr Yathindra to prop up PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi — a tribal leader — as an ideological heir to his father. Jarkiholi was apparently used as a perfect foil to block AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge who is now very keen to become the CM. It is being said DKS has assured Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge, who is state IT minister to back him and has assured him that he could become Deputy CM in his team. It is being said Karnataka drama would play out only after November 14– that is after Bihar poll results. Meanwhile, the political struggle of oneupmanship between DKS and Siddaramaiah has brought Karnataka administration to a standstill. Siddaramaiah who favours Mysuru over Bengaluru, doesn’t care much for the software capital of India.

Barely a week is left for campaigning for the first phase of election in Bihar to end on November 4 and the first phase of voting is slated for November 6. However, former Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has not visited Bihar even once in the last two months. Rahul was last seen in Bihar on September 1 while concluding his ‘Voters’ Adhikar Yatra’.  With his Vote Chori campaign not making much impact with voters in the state, it appears Rahul has steered away from the state. Rahul’s absence from the political scene has also become a talking point for the ruling alliance. Mocking him for his claims to explode a hydrogen bomb (by giving further proof of vote theft), JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar wondered why Rahul was avoiding Bihar. “That too at a time when all the top leaders, be it PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, several Union Ministers and even RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav have been tirelessly campaigning for their respective nominees.” For once Rahul Gandhi’s critics may have a valid point. That is because in the election season even Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is not keeping good health, has been addressing one rally after another to shore up the winning chances of the NDA nominees. “We too are perplexed over the long absence of Rahul”, said a NDA leader. Notably, the Congress is contesting on 61 seats while the RJD 143. Sources in the Congress say Rahul is reportedly miffed with the way seat-sharing was done in Bihar. It is being said Rahul Gandhi would be addressing a joint rally with Tejashwi Yadav on October 29 in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.

All eyes are on Odisha’s high voltage triangular seat contest for the Nuapada Assembly bypoll to be held on November 11. The ruling BJP and opposition BJD, Congress have made this bypoll a prestigious issue. If BJP loses then there will be a question mark on the popularity of Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s leadership. If Naveen Patnaik’s BJD loses it would indicate Patnaik’s popularity as the Leader of Opposition is waning. Even though Patnaik would like his party to win this one, he has not gone whole hog for the fear of inviting BJP’s wrath vis a vis launching probe into financials of his BJD. It is learnt that Patnaik is opting for soft strategy, basically, eyeing the 12% SC votes and deliberately not playing the tribal card and opting to play SC card instead by fielding heavy weight Snehangini Chhuria.  Congress on its part is now playing up the tribal card and is hoping to win this seat. Now all eyes on the November 11 outcome.

After the RO-KO show at the Sydney Cricket Ground, both cricketers seem determined to play on in ODIs and end their careers with a last hurrah in the 2027 ODI World Cup. The event may be two years away, which is a long time for a 38-year-old and his partner in the century stand who is only two years younger. But they will not be lacking in enthusiasm to take their bow in a significant event, which is the ICC Cup that Rohit Sharma has not won but Virat Kohli has as a young member of the Dhoni’s 2011-12 team. What they proved in their fluency and their calm methods of scoring in ODI cricket was that they know how to beat this game regardless of 17-18 years having passed since India’s win in the 2007 T20 World Cup changed the course of cricket. What they will have is the backing of the BCCI selectors who would not dare to pass judgment on their game unlike the social media and WhatsApp experts who will bay for anyone’s blood after just a duck or two as they did in Kohli’s case when he picked up the unwanted record of his first ever ducks in Australia, a country against which both Kohli and his partner have played some of their most combative performances. The simple point delivered in their success Down Under is to please leave the question of when to call halt to their ODI careers when they wish. 

The Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is working out of the War Room. That’s because PM Modi has asked him to ensure super arrangements for the annual Chhath festival in Eastern India, which coincides with Skanda Sasti in Tamil Nadu falling on October 27-28. All trains to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh are full because families are returning to their villages to celebrate this festival. Outside some stations in many states, nearly 2 km long queues of travellers have been seen. Indian Railways has made arrangements to run 13,000 special trains, but these are unable to cope with the rush. As Bihar goes to elections soon after the festival, Modi told the Railway Minister to ensure everything runs smoothly. So, Vaishnaw is sitting in the three war rooms at Rail Bhavan to monitor crowd management and train locations. These three war rooms monitor the movement of crowds at 35 top stations round the clock using CCTV cameras. Minute-to-minute data are being prepared, and a heat map is being developed. Every hour, footfall in at least 35 stations is recorded. Special trains are immediately sent to stations where huge crowds are noticed. In one case, when the minister noticed a huge rush at Ambala station in Haryana for a train going from Amritsar to Purnea, another train was dispatched from Jalandhar to accommodate extra passengers. Crowds were also noticed in Surat and Udhna stations in Gujarat. More than five million people travelled during Diwali and Chhath this year compared to last year. The only difference this time is that Indian Railways is trying its best to take care of travellers.

The time has arrived — in Australia — for Suryakumar Yadav, known by the popular acronym SKY, to get runs under his belt before the ICC World Twenty20 in India and Sri Lanka in Feb-Mar 2026. It’s unlikely that the bang-bang batter will be dropped should his form continue to dip. In the seven-match Asia Cup in the UAE that India won — but is yet to get its hands in the trophy — he flopped with a measly collection of 72 runs for an average of 18.00. Prior to the Asia Cup in the five match home series against England, he faced just 14 balls and made 28 runs for an average of 5.80. Before that in the away series in South Africa he tallied 26 runs in four matches for a single digit average of 8.67. All this works out to 126 runs in 16 matches. In normal circumstances Yadav, for all his versatile batting and showmanship, would have been dropped from the team, but he is the captain who has won 25 of the 29 matches and hence the selection committee as they say are “ready to give him the long rope.” The selection committee with Ajit Agarkar as Chair are not keen to upset the apple cart a few months leading to the World Cup that Rohit Sharma’s team won defeating South Africa in the final at Bridgetown, thanks to Yadav’s brilliant “bunny hop” catch to send back left hander David Miller. Yadav in jest may have said he hardly got starts in the Asia Cup, but he must be disappointed with the numbers since November 2024 and keen to hammer a big score. Yadav’s average has dipped to 37.08 from the impressive 40s.

Once a formidable rival to the BSE, the 117-year-old Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) is voluntarily exiting the stock exchange business, marking the end of an era in India’s capital markets. Established in 1908 as the country’s second recognised bourse, the CSE once served as Kolkata’s financial hub, attracting significant trade volumes and investor interest. The exchange’s decline accelerated following the Ketan Parekh stock market scam, which triggered a payment crisis and broker defaults. Despite attempts to modernise, CSE struggled to compete with the technologically advanced BSE and the NSE. Trading at the CSE was suspended in April 2013 by the SEBI for failing to meet mandatory turnover thresholds and establish a separate clearing corporation. Over the last decade, the exchange attempted multiple revivals, including approaching Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court challenging SEBI’s suspension order. However, these efforts added to financial strain without delivering results. In December 2024, the CSE board resolved to withdraw pending litigation and pursue a voluntary exit. Shareholders formally approved the exit at an EGM in April 2025, after which the CSE submitted its exit application to SEBI. The regulator has appointed Rajvanshi & Associates, a valuation agency to determine the exchange’s worth. Once the exit is sanctioned, CSE will transition into a holding company, with its 100% subsidiary, CSE Capital Markets Pvt Ltd, continuing broking operations as a member of NSE and BSE. Speculations are rife that CSE is seeking SEBI’s approval to sell its 3-acre EM Bypass property to the Srijan Group for Rs 253 crore. 

They say success has many fathers and failure is an orphan, and the fate of ‘War 2’ illustrates that proverb perfectly. The film began with a show of camaraderie: Hrithik Roshan and Junior NTR promoted it together in Hyderabad and Mumbai, projecting a united front. But when the film flopped, that unity evaporated. Junior NTR distanced himself and pointed fingers at the producers; in turn another producer Naga Vamsi defended his own decisions while criticizing Yash Raj Films as the Main Producer and the Decision-maker, insisting that he along with Jr NTR had trusted the studio and backed the wrong creative choices. Made on a reported budget of 400 crores, War 2 failed to recover its costs, and the public spectacle of blame-shifting left the project politically and reputationally orphaned. Cast and crew who once stood shoulder to shoulder in promotion were suddenly eager to separate their names from the failure. The fallout extended beyond personal recriminations. Director Ayan Mukerji has claimed that he merely followed the script by writer Sridhar Raghavan and therefore had limited creative inputs, a statement that coincided with his exit from Yash Raj’s Dhoom 4 and his reported move to work on Brahmastra 2 with Dharma Productions. Meanwhile Aditya Chopra and Yash Raj Films have largely refrained from talking to the press about the disappointment. The production house that enjoyed a major hit like Saiyaara and a major flop like War 2 in the same year now finds itself fielding public criticism from former collaborators rather than defenders. In the end, War 2’s failure has few takers: while many involved were quick to distance themselves, silence or deflection remain the dominant responses—leaving the film, as the proverb warns, orphaned in its failure.

Remarriages among the elite muslim community in Kerala are in vogue these days. It is not everlasting love between spouses which is prompting this new trend, but to ensure their hard-earned wealth and properties remain with their children after their demise. What began as a few isolated remarriages is rapidly becoming a powerful movement that questions the long-held authority of religious organisations over personal lives. For generations, the unequal division of property, where sons inherit twice as much as daughters, has been justified as divine law. Couples, who all along accepted this without questioning, are rewriting the narrative. They are using secular legal frameworks to ensure that their daughters and wives are treated as equals. Defying century-old patriarchal interpretations of personal law, a growing number of muslim couples are turning to the Special Marriages Act (Section 15) to secure equal inheritance rights for women. One of the latest to take this step is 76-year old Basheer and 72-year old Hasanath from Palakkad. They remarried to ensure that their daughters get equal share in property. “This is not a rebellion against faith. It is a demand for justice within it,” says Neju, State Convener of Forum for Gender Equality Among Muslims. Neju was one of the first to get remarried to her husband, Ismail, as early as December 10, 2024. “After our marriage, many approached us quietly to know how they could do the same. Hundreds of couples have already chosen this path to avoid pressure from Mahal committees and to protect the future of their daughters.” Prominent Islamic scholar C H Musthafa Moulavi revealed that he knows of a prominent Islamic leader who remarried under the SMA to safeguard his daughters. The current system is unfair to women. In Egypt and Tunisia, where Islamic law is followed, inheritance is distributed equally. 

Malayalam films have set benchmarks in many dimensions of cinema…simple yet complex stories (contradiction?), slick editing, chilling suspense and above all gripping unravelling of a credible plot at budget spends. The English subtitles have further boosted their allure to audiences, weary and wary of boy meets girl stories, families fighting over wealth, incredible plots and huge budgets. People like Dulquer Salmaan are fully conscious of the boredom and ennui of run-of-the-mill films. So Dulquer eases into the change brigade. His Wayfarer Films is now enjoying the record-breaking success of Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra which had a dream run in cinemas, grossing Rs 300 crore…it set the trend for a film superheroine, a novel status. Heroine Kalyani Priyadarshan is still savouring the fantasy theme. It is learnt that Wayfarer Films already has the sequel to Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra almost ready to hit cinemas; even as Lokah 1 breezes into OTT. But there is a big change ….Tovino Thomas is the superhero playing Chathan Kutti in Lokah Chapter 2. Dulquer appears in the sequel too as the Odiyan Ninja. Malayalam cinema is reinventing itself like Rowling’s Harry Potter series …Ministry of Magic, a universe where good and evil fight, ghouls, goblins, house elves, wizards, witches, Yakshis who transport you to the world of ancient magic. Cinema as an art form is transforming itself from a “golden era” of diverse content to new wave entertainment of bold themes. The success of Bahubali and Kantara have definitely opened up audience appeal to folklore and fantasy.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s internal problems came to the fore during Diwali. As Yogi gathered in Ayodhya on October 19 to celebrate Deepotsav, the focus was not on festivities but the absence of his Deputy CMs Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya. It sparked talk of a rift in the UP BJP and differences between the bureaucracy and BJP legislators. While people close to Maurya said his busy schedule in Bihar, which goes to polls next month, for his last-minute cancellation — the Deputy CM is the party’s co-in-charge in the Assembly polls — party leaders blamed an administrative mix-up. “It is the first Deepotsav in nine years that Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak has missed. While no one is saying anything officially, the miscommunication has to be looked into. There was no mention of the Deputy CMs in the advertisement for the celebrations. Not just that, it was not clear which event they would attend and where they would sit, as per the protocol. The same was true of the Governor (Anandiben Patel), whose name was missing from the local invite. The BJP’s loss in UP in the Lok Sabha elections last year sparked speculation about differences within the party’s state unit. Several leaders in the state unit also took note of Maurya’s appointment as the party’s Bihar poll co-incharge in September, months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah referred to him as “mere mitr (my friend)”. It is being said Maurya’s involvement in Bihar polls would give a boost to him ahead of UP assembly polls. It must be mentioned that Yogi is the most sought campaigner in Bihar polls. Meanwhile, Ayodhya once again lit up the world stage with a record-breaking celebration of Deepotsav 2025, illuminating the sacred city with over 26 lakh oil lamps.

Tamil Nadu can only be shocked! Kerala’s ruling LDF is witnessing one of its fiercest internal flare-ups in recent times, with the CPI openly rebelling against its senior partner, the CPI(M), over the “discreet” signing of the MoU for implementing the Union government’s Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme. The CPI, caught completely off guard by the revelation that the agreement with the Union Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education and Literacy was inked on October 23, accused the CPI(M) of breaching front discipline and keeping allies in the dark. In a dramatic policy reversal, on October 19, the CPI(M) — one of the fiercest critics of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 — took that surprising U-turn. After years of vehement opposition to the Union government’s PM-SHRI scheme, which mandates the implementation of NEP, the Left-ruled Kerala decided to join the initiative. It’s learnt that on October 23, Kerala Education Secretary Dr K Vasuki flew to New Delhi to ink the MoU on behalf of the state. She was accompanied by Dr AR Supriya, Director of Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), whose funds had earlier been frozen by the Centre due to Kerala’s refusal to join PM-SHRI. The decision could unlock nearly Rs 1,500 crore in central funds previously withheld by the Union government. The “secret manner” in which the MoU got signed has snowballed into a full-blown political controversy. The CPI has accused the CPI(M) of violating coalition etiquette and undermining collective decision-making. The Union Ministry of Education welcomed the Kerala government’s decision to sign the MoU, terming it a major milestone in transforming the state’s school education landscape. However, as the CPI and CPI(M) stick to their position, Kerala’s ruling front faces a crisis. Will the storm over PM SHRI shake the very foundations of the Left’s coalition experiment? 

Alleged suicide by a woman doctor working at a government hospital at Phaltan in Maharashtra’s Satara district has shaken the state since the name of a Member of Parliament is said to be connected with the development. There is no confirmation of this information from the police but the political undertones behind the drastic action are slowly becoming known. The deceased had written a note on the backside of her palm, clearly blaming a police sub inspector and another person. The PSI, Gopal Badne, has been suspended forthwith while investigations are underway to unravel different angles of the tragedy. The death occurred in a hotel room on October 23 night. In her suicide note, the victim wrote that Badne raped her four times over the past five months. The other individual, Prashant Bankar, had been mentally torturing her, she grieved. In view of the gravity of the incident, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis called SP Tushar Doshi and ordered the suspension. As of now, the identity of the MP is unknown although it is whispered that he had spoken with the doctor on a couple of occasions though from the mobile handsets belonging to some other persons. It is also alleged that she had been resisting pressure from certain police personnel and political workers who were demanding favourable medical reports from her in certain matters. The police have not corroborated any such social media posts while her body has been sent for a post mortem.

A public admission by senior BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankhule that mobile and WhatsApp communication of BJP cadres in Buldhana were under surveillance, has sparked much uproar in Maharashtra. Though the senior leader later clarified that he was simply referring to the one lakh WhatsApp groups of their party’s booth leaders which are linked to their party’s war room. These WhatsApp groups, he claimed, were monitored to gauge public sentiment and determine party policies and were the sole mode of communication between the party and its cadres, it gave ample ammunition to the Opposition which raked up the party’s link with Pegasus and even suggested that the Opposition and coalition leaders too were under watch. The admission comes at a time when the disciplined party has been agog with internal rifts threatening to embarrass the party and its senior leadership. In Solapur, the party cadres held public protests opposing the entry of Dilip Mane, an ex-legislator from another party. In Pune, the party’s senior union minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol has been at the receiving end with allegations of corrupt deals. Though the sustained attack is from a Shinde-aide Ravindra Dhangekar, the general buzz is that the allegations are being fed from his own party. All this comes at a time when the party’s senior most leader in Maharashtra, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been emphasizing regularly that he would be very much around in the state till the next elections in 2029. He has been trying to nip a strong buzz that he would be shunted to the Centre from the top post in the state. The BJP has also been battling friction within its coalition partners emphasising that partners must follow coalition norms.

Even when the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was completed in Bihar, amid opposition protestations that died down soon enough, Maharashtra has held off its own electoral roll revision. Officialdom confirming this said, “We have informed the Election Commission of India (ECI) that we are unable to carry out the SIR in the state being seized of imminent polls to be held for 28 plus municipal corporations, councils and other local self-bodies in Maharashtra. We have already drawn requisite government personnel (mostly teachers drawn from educational institutions run by the state government) who cannot be redeployed for the purpose of conducting the SIR.” While Opposition political formations led by the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi launched protests over alleged impropriety in the electoral revision process, the large number of ineligible voters and subsequent expose over illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingyas being identified in Bihar saw the Opposition protests being muted soon enough. Maharashtra, for its part, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told newspersons over a Diwali lunch that the state electoral rolls did in fact exhibit individual voters being registered at multiple locations, the incidence of the same voter exercising her/his franchise more than once was not evident. “Address changes and the proliferating migrant populations often caused the changed residential addresses, resultantly in multiple entries in electoral rolls and yet, no double voting incidence has been found to exist…Our priority is to hold the local self-bodies’ elections on pain of inviting public ire over the inordinately delayed civic elections across the state for over three years now.”

The ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra is facing some tough moments at present. Those at the receiving end are alleged to be related with certain questionable matters. The latest ‘expose’ in this series, by state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, has created a sensation. Sapkal has alleged that 21 MLAs have received a Diwali gift of a Defender SUV each from the same contractor. The price of a Defender SUV is said to be around Rs 2 crore. The genesis of the charge is the Defender in which Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Sanjay Gaikwad was found moving around. When the MLA’s pictures in the SUV became viral, he explained that the vehicle belonged to one of his relatives, who is a contractor. “He is first my kin and then a businessman,” Gaikwad defended his position. It later transpired that Gaikwad was exposed by certain Mahayuti leaders. However, even before the dust over the matter had settled, Sapkal had burst a political bomb. He has raised many questions. For instance, he has demanded that the identity of the contractor and the beneficiary MLAs should be revealed by the authorities. Similarly, he has asked if the Defender SUV used by Gaikwad belongs to the fleet of the 21 vehicles or is it the 22nd. That SUV had become a centre of attraction in Buldana town which is Gaikwad’s constituency since it was flaunting MLA stickers. A response from the Mahayuti is eagerly awaited by its supporters and detractors.

With less than a year to go for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the anticipated alliance between the CPM and Congress remains in limbo. Despite the recent Kaliganj by-election, where Congress contested with CPM support and improved its performance, the absence of a structured coordination mechanism has left both parties drifting. Party insiders suggest that CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was the key in maintaining crucial communication with Congress’ national leadership. But after his sudden demise in 2024 not much progress has been made. CPM sources indicate initial movement to create space for Congress, which has now stalled, with no confirmed timeline or structured plan for resuming discussions. Earlier this year, tensions between the CPM and ally RSP over seat allocation led to Congress being handed the Kaliganj seat. At the national level, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir had urged the Bengal unit to prepare for at least 90 assembly seats, signalling both independent strength and the option of alliance-building. This is in respect to the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha election where CPM led in just one assembly segment, while Congress held leads in 11, mostly in North Dinajpur, Malda, and Murshidabad. On several occasions symbolic unity has been absent between Pradesh Congress and CPM where state president Subhankar Sarkar and CPM leader Mohammad Salim separately organise protest programmes against the ruling Trinamool Congress. Further, internal frictions persist, including discomfort between CPM leaders and former Congress state chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, while AICC organisational chief KC Venugopal’s focus on Kerala is seen as affecting Bengal alliance efforts. With no talks between the two parties, the 2026 Assembly elections could once again see a direct fight between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.  

On Thursday (Oct 23) the International Cricket Council (ICC) put out a release that a record 25166 spectators showed up to cheer the women in blue team at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai for its crucial league match against New Zealand. The BCCI (India) is the host of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup along with Sri Lanka (to facilitate Pakistan’s matches in the competition) and according to officials the turnout at Guwahati for the inaugural match between India and Sri Lanka was around 23000 and that big turnouts were seen at Visakhapatnam and Indore for matches featuring the women’s team looking to win its first ever ICC tournament. Once Bengaluru was ruled out of the World Cup itinerary because of certain shortcomings following the death of many people during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations, the ICC awarded five matches to the DY Patil Stadium created by the sports-loving Vijay Patil. The venue in the outskirts of Mumbai has been a popular one from 2008 when many IPL matches including the final was held there. Thereafter the locals demonstrated massive support for women’s internationals and the Women’s Premier League. No wonder the ICC chose the venue with good infrastructure for five World Cup matches including a semi-final and the final. A large turnout is expected for India’s last league match against Bangladesh. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team qualified for the semi-final with a resounding win against New Zealand with Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal hammering centuries. Two years ago, the men’s team drew massive crowds for its World Cup matches in India, including one lakh plus at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the final against Australia. Much the same is happening for the Women’s team, although the numbers are less.

Nothing has hurt DMK ego or the Dravidian model more than the announcement of the Google’s decision to create the AI hub in Andhra .AIADMK leader and former minister Thangamani criticised the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government for failing to attract Google’s investment to the state, “Despite Google CEO Sundar Pichai being a Tamil, Google has gone to Andhra Pradesh and not Tamil Nadu,” he said on the floor of the Tamil Nadu assembly. Responding to the jibe, Tamil Nadu Minister TRB Raaja said the state was set to receive Foxconn’s investment worth Rs 15,000 crore which will create several jobs. He also highlighted that 14,000 engineering jobs were generated under the DMK government and urged parties to stop ridiculing ongoing efforts. Most people however feel foreign investments are moving away from TN as the DMK first family – particularly – chief minister MK Stalin’s son-in law’s is known to seek a partnership with firms wanting to invest in the state. This has hindered investment from coming into the state. Sources point to impediments faced even by committed entrepreneurs like Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu. It is in this light PM Modi during his visit to Andhra this week congratulated the people of the state for Google’s massive AI Hub investment, hailing CM Chandrababu Naidu’s visionary leadership. Modi noted the hub will position Visakhapatnam as a global AI and connectivity centre, serving not just India but the world. Google is set to invest $15 billion to build a massive data centre cluster in Visakhapatnam—a project that could mark its largest direct investment in India’s digital economy, according to a ET report. The 1 GW-capacity data centre hub will comprise three campuses and the facilities are expected to become operational by July 2028.

GenZ may not be familiar with this metamorphosis in the film world of South India. But old timers and mid-gens do remember the scorn and dismissive attitude of the North for Southern heroines …fat, frumpy, matronly and of course “dark”. But, Vyjayanthimala, Padmini, Hema Malini, Rekha, Sridevi changed all that…turned this perception into sheer adoration.…Bollywood geniuses threw open not just their talent but their classic beauty and striking sexuality. Today, this change into sleek, sexy and sophisticated much in demand femme fatale stars has churned up more. Fifteen south Indian actresses lead the roster in terms of the number of brands and products they endorse, pan India. The reach of these cinema influencers only highlights their talent and striking looks to launch any product, from red hot jewellery to shimmering sarees and tech gadgets, even start-ups — any product that needs the absorbing presence of a woman of sustenance. The list is headed by Rashmika Mandana , the national crush, with Nayanthara and Kajal Aggarwal not far behind. Nayanthara’s Tanishq ad is a lesson in sleek jewellery that embellish Nayan …or is it Nayanthara’s exquisite presence launching a line of temptations? Hema Malini gave new meaning to Shudh Pani in her Kent Ad. Walk on Cathedral road, the Fifth Avenue of Chennai and Tamannaah Bhatia easily makes traffic stop with her jewellery ads. The brand success of Idhayam Nallennai is a testimony to graceful Jyothika whose calm and classy looks launch products as diverse and coveted as Diamond Jewellery to mundane ones like kitchen products. Trisha Krishnan has launched many jewellery brands. But behind these influencers who are so compelling, there must be an ethos, a work ethic, a professionalism. These stars have awesome linguistic skills to relate to customers …their regional and pan India filmi identity have launched them as ideal influencers for brands.

India’s wealthiest ‘farmer’ Amitabh Bachchan has celebrated his 83rd birthday on 11 October by purchasing three plots of land at Alibaug near Mumbai. Already owning a land parcel in the same locality, Amitabh has been leading the list of celebrities who have preferred Alibaug for land purchases. Alibaug, the Raigad district headquarters, has emerged as perhaps the most popular tourist destination over the years outside Mumbai. Now that multiple options like the expressway and the water transport services are becoming available, land prices in Alibaug and the environment are constantly showing an upward trend. Top stars like Shahrukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon and cricketer Virat Kohli are among those who have invested in land in the area. Amitabh’s latest purchase was registered on 7 October by paying stamp duty of over Rs.39 lakh. The lands have been sold by a firm, HOABL Landbuild, which had sold land to him earlier, too. That was in April 2024. Amitabh’s previous land purchase that became famous was in Ayodhya. It took place just before the Ram Temple was inaugurated in Ayodhya. The Alibaug land is near the Mandwa jetty, which runs regular sea trips to Mumbai daily. The land holds potential of development as a sprawling villa. Amitabh has so far maintained silence over the transactions. His three bungalows in Mumbai are in the elite Juhu area. The latest acquisition by him makes him one of prominent real estate owners in India.

The legion of fans of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli must be utterly disappointed with their scores in the first of the three-match bash between India and Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday (Oct 19). Clearly not in touch with competitive cricket for seven months (which is over 200 days) after the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, Sharma (8) and Kohli (0) could not get going in the Western Australian city. They may have done their training and practice in order to prepare for their return to the highest class of one-day cricket, but Josh Hazlewood and left arm seamer Mitchell Starc outsmarted them when India was asked to bat by captain Mitchell Marsh upon winning the toss. There was much speculation about Sharma and Kohli selection in the 15-man squad for the three matches rostered at Perth, Adelaide and Sydney. They may not be under pressure at all before the next match at Adelaide on October 23, but India’s Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Shubman Gill will have a tough time picking both in the playing XI at Sydney, should the two batters fail to score heavily at Adelaide. Australia doesn’t have its all-format skipper Pat Cummins, but they still had two extraordinary seamers in Hazlewood and Starc who used the new ball efficiently to eject them from the middle. Sharma and Kohli have retired from the long format Test and Twenty20, but have chosen to play the 50 overs format with the hope of giving themselves another shot at the World Cup in 2027 at South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The national selectors have not committed themselves to pick them for all matches leading to the World Cup that India lost to Australia in the 2023 final in Ahmedabad.

The two legends who have made a solid impression in their careers both against the red ball as well as the white were in for a big test straight away as they returned to Team India at one of the toughest venues for international cricket. Virat Kohli scored a century the last time he was at the Optus Stadium, but the bounce in the pitches of Perth in Western Australia is always a challenge, no matter if you have conquered it before. The Optus Stadium may not quite be the fearful WACA ground where the wind is another factor that helps bowlers more at a venue that is the very definition of a bowlers’ paradise. Kohli made his first duck in ODIs in Australia, that too after facing 8 balls. But that does not negate the build-up he got as he resumed the journey towards becoming the second highest all-time scorer of runs in ODIs behind the pocket powerhouse of a master batsman in Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs). The fact is Kohli (14,181) must still make 53 runs to join Kumar Sangakkara on the second highest ODI peak of 14,234 runs. Rohit Sharma also had a milestone to touch in his 500th international appearance for Team India though it wasn’t the most productive with just 8 runs. Kohli may have failed to further his in-your-face experience of cricket in Australia where the crowds can get into your head through the ears. He has seen bad days in that respect as he once gave the Aussie crowd the ‘bird’ for their abusive tendencies. But at the end of it all they recognise you are a fighter, and they come to respect you, which is what Kohli said before the game.

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.

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.