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In Chhattisgarh, lithium deposits draw attention of Adani, other groups

From Adani and Vedanta to CIL and Jindal, everyone has bid for it when lease tenders were put out last week. The bid amounts went 38 times higher than the reserve price.

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By Neeraj Mishra

Of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, Korba is perhaps the most significant this time round. And this significance has nothing to do with elections. It’s lithium.

Every big business in the country wants to dig into the lithium deposits found in Katghora region in the constituency. Korba is already rich in coal deposits and produces almost 60 per cent of the state’s electricity while almost every North Indian state owns a coal block here.

Naturally with such high stakes in, Adani could not but be here. He is the lone MDO of all coal deposits in the entire Hasdeo Aranya region, as the Korba-Raigarh belt is known. Adani also wants a piece of the lithium pie. The precious mineral has been found spread over 256 heactares area of which nearly 85 hectares is rich forest land. From Adani and Vedanta to CIL and Jindal, everyone has bid for it when the lease tenders were put out last week. The bid amounts went 38 times higher than the reserve price.

Into this mix, so far politically controlled by the Congress’ Mahant family from Sakti region, Saroj Pandey has jumped in on behalf of the BJP. Presently Leader of the Opposition and former Speaker Charandas Mahant has been in state politics for the past 40 years serving as Home Minister in undivided Madhya Pradesh in the 1990s and Union MOS for Agriculture among other things. His father Bisahudas Mahant was close to Arjun Singh and a minister in his government. 

The Mahant family has retained its hold over the Korba region for past several decades. Mahant himself lost twice from Korba and won once in 2009 when he went onto become a union minister at the fag end of Manmohan Singh’s second term. His wife Jyotsna won in 2019 and is again the Congress candidate this time round.

So Congress has not looked beyond the Mahant family in the past 25 years since the state came into existence. The Mahants have won twice and lost twice with every indicator that Jyotsna will lose this time. Charandas is now in his 70s and it is a surprise that Congress still persists with him as LOP. But his record as MLA from the same region has been far better.

Saroj Pandey, who belongs to Durg-Bhilai and had lost in 2014 to Congress’ Tamradhwaj Sahu from there, has been relocated to Korba after two terms in the Rajya Sabha. She does not have many supporters within the state BJP but has solid support from the central leadership which had also made her party general secretary and made her the Maharashtra in-charge. She is expected to win but it may not be a cakewalk considering circumstances in the state BJP more than anything else.

The other constituency in the north coal belt of the state is the reserved seat of Jangir best known for Kanshi Ram. He had fought his first ever election from here in 1984 and launched the BSP thereafter. Former Minister Shiv Kumar Deharia has been given the ticket again from here simply because he is expected to take care of his own election funding. He had lost in 2009 by a margin of more than 10 per cent votes and is not expected to do any better this time round.

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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