People in Delhi woke up to severe category air quality for a second day, with low wind speed contributing to a thick fog layer across the national capital. Nonetheless, the third phase of the Graded Response Action (GRAP 3) will not be imposed for now.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that for the last two days, for the first time this season, the Air Quality Index has gone above 400 in Delhi. Explaining the reason behind severe category air quality after poor and very poor AQI since October 14, the Environment Minister said that meteorologists have reported that due to snowfall in the mountains, a drop in the temperature of Delhi has been recorded. Owing to this, dry conditions have been created in the morning and evening in the entirety of North India, he said. 

Meanwhile, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) mentioned that the national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was measured at 428 at 9 am, placing it in the severe category. Among Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations, 32 recorded AQI levels over 400, including Anand Vihar, IGI Airport, Mandir Marg, and Patparganj. Reportedly, this marks the national capital’s worst air quality reading of the season and the highest in the country, with a 24-hour AQI of 418 on Wednesday, an increase from 334 the day prior.

Clarifying why GRAP 3 will not be implemented, Gopal Rai noted that there is a possibility of improvement in the pollution level from tomorrow, therefore they are again giving instructions that the rules made under Grap 2 should be followed on the ground so that GRAP 3 does not have to be implemented. The Environment Minister also ensured that if the pollution again goes into the severe category then the government will take all the necessary steps and will work together with the people of Delhi. 

Naresh Meena, an independent candidate in the Deoli-Uniara by-polls, was arrested a day after evading arrest for slapping Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amit Chaudhary.

After the police attempted to arrest the independent candidate, major violence broke out in Samravata village of Rajasthan’s Tonk late at night on Wednesday. The independent candidate is contesting the Deoli-Uniara by-polls. Reportedly, a video showed Naresh Meena slapping the SDM outside a polling booth where Chaudhary was overseeing election procedures.

The rioters also pelted stones at the officers and set several vehicles on fire. As tensions in the area remain high, Ajmer Range IG Om Prakash confirmed that nearly 60 people have been arrested so far.

The unrest left a trail of destruction in the village. Reports said, around 24 large vehicles and 48 motorcycles were put on fire, with significant damage to multiple homes. Considering the situation, the Special Task Force (STF) units were deployed early Thursday morning to carry out search operations and restore order.

Giving an account of the incident, Tonk SP Vikas Sangwan narrated that in Samravata village, some people had boycotted voting. In an effort to address the issue, SDM, Tehsildar, Additional SP, and other officers visited the area, when independent candidate Naresh Meena entered the voting station and physically assaulted the SDM, he continued. Vikas Sangwam also added that the Additional SP immediately restrained him. The Tonk SP held that action will be taken as per the law. He also clarified that following their intervention, voting resumed peacefully.

Meanwhile, Independent candidate Naresh Meena alleged that SDM Amit Chaudhary had previously assaulted locals. He said that the SDM had earlier beaten a woman in Hindoli, along with her husband and a teacher, and forced them to cast votes under threats of job loss. He claimed that his supporters have been harassed since October 25, his campaign posters were torn down, and attempts were made to prevent people from voting for him.

As the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly election for 43 seats concluded on Wednesday, the voter turnout stood at 64.86 per cent till 5 pm. The BJP-led NDA is looking to oust the JMM-led coalition in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that infiltration remains the biggest issue in Jharkhand.

The 43 seats where election is being held, are primarily located in the tribal-dominated South Chotanagpur, northern Palamu and Kolhan regions. Among the seats voting today, 20 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) and six for Scheduled Castes (SCs). Furthermore, Two of the seats, namely,  Chatra and Simaria are located in the state’s most backward district, also called Chatra. 

The BJP has offered 25 promises as part of its Sankalp Patra, addressing a range of issues such as infiltration, Uniform Civil Code, and the INDIA bloc has underlined seven guarantees in the fields of education, domicile policy, social justice, food, Maiyya Samman Yojna, jobs, and farmers welfare, replicating its model in Karnataka and Telangana.

While the BJP assured that the tribal identity will be fully preserved even though the party plans to implement the UCC in the state, the INDIA bloc has relied on the social justice plank, promising 28% reservation for tribals; 12% for Dalits and 27% for OBCs, alongside protection of the interests of the minorities in the state.

Meanwhile, in one of the major contests, former chief minister and  BJP candidate Champai Soren is contesting against JMM rival Ganesh Mahali in the Seraikela seat. Champai Soren’s son Babulal Soren has been fielded by the saffron party in Ghatsila, against JMM candidate and Jharkhand Cabinet minister Ram Das Soren. Former Congress CM Madhu Koda’s wife, former MP Geeta Koda, will be contesting on a BJP ticket against sitting Congress MLA Sona Ram Sinku in Jaganathpur. Former BJP CM and ex-Union minister Arjun Munda’s wife Meera Munda is in the fray against sitting MLA Sanjib Sardar in Potka.

The second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly Election will take place on November 20. The results for the election will be declared on November 23.