The appointment of Shantanu Naidu as General Manager and Head of Strategic Initiatives at Tata Motors has captured the attention of social media, with users celebrating his inspiring journey and remarkable achievement. Known for his close relationship with the late Ratan Tata, Naidu shared an emotional post on LinkedIn that resonated deeply across various platforms, prompting a wave of supportive messages.

In his LinkedIn announcement, Naidu recounted the nostalgic memories of his father coming home from work at the Tata Motors plant, an image that stayed with him throughout his life. He wrote, “It comes full circle now,” expressing the emotional weight of his new role that ties back to his earliest memories related to Tata Motors.

Social media platforms have seen a surge in searches and discussions about Naidu’s rise within the corporate world, reflecting the public’s admiration and interest. His journey from an engineering graduate of Savitribai Phule Pune University to a prominent position at one of India’s leading automotive companies is not just a career story but a narrative of dedication and personal growth.

Before assuming this role, Naidu worked directly under Ratan Tata’s guidance, where he was known for both his professional acumen and personal initiatives, such as his project to protect homeless dogs that led to his initial interaction with Tata. His book, I Came Upon a Lighthouse, which details his relationship with Tata, along with his founding of Goodfellows, highlights his multifaceted career and compassionate approach to entrepreneurship and leadership.

Following Ratan Tata’s death in 2024, Naidu’s tribute on LinkedIn highlighted the profound impact Tata had on his life, describing the grief and love that marked their relationship. This emotional honesty has only increased the public’s connection to him, as evidenced by the current social media buzz.

As Shantanu Naidu steps into his new role, the community on social media continues to follow his journey, sharing their congratulations and looking forward to his future contributions at Tata Motors. The widespread reaction underscores the impact of his professional developments and his personal story on a broad audience, emphasizing how business achievements intertwined with genuine human connections can inspire people worldwide.

After a slow start in the first two hours of polling, voter turnout in the single-phase Delhi Assembly elections reached 33.31% by 1 PM on Wednesday, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The ECI reported that among the districts in the national capital, the highest turnout was observed in the North East district, which saw a participation rate of 24.87%. Following closely was the Shahdara district with a turnout of 23.30%. In contrast, the Central district had the lowest participation at just 16.46%.

Other districts displayed varying turnout rates as well. The South West district recorded 21.90% voter turnout, while New Delhi followed with 16.80%. East Delhi reported a turnout of 20.03%, North Delhi saw 18.63%, North West and South districts both recorded 19.75%, South East reached 19.66%, and West Delhi reported a turnout of 17.67%. These figures were noted as of 11 AM on polling day.

In addition to the assembly elections in Delhi, bye-elections were also taking place in other regions. The Milkipur assembly constituency recorded a turnout of 29.86% in its bye-election, and the Erode (East) constituency in Tamil Nadu had an attendance rate of 26.03% by 11 AM.

Polling for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi coincided with by-polls for two other seats—one each in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The voting process commenced at 7:00 AM, allowing citizens to cast their ballots amid strict security protocols enforced across all polling locations.

Among the key constituencies being contested in Delhi are New Delhi, Jangpura, Kalkaji, Okhla, Mustafabad, Bijwasan, Kasturba Nagar, Greater Kailash, and Patparganj. The turnout figures highlight the varying levels of voter engagement across the capital, reflecting a snapshot of the electoral participation on this significant day.

On Wednesday, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the Delhi Police had erected barricades 200 meters away from polling stations in areas dominated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), hindering vehicle access.

Bharadwaj highlighted specific locations like Chirag Delhi, where motorcycles, scooters, and cars were prohibited from approaching polling booths.

He expressed concern on X, questioning how elderly and disabled voters would be able to walk such a distance to cast their ballots. Bharadwaj also urged the Election Commission and the Delhi Police to clarify the legal basis for this enforcement.

With approximately 1.56 crore eligible voters in Delhi, the election features a competitive battle among AAP, BJP, and Congress. AAP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the BJP is determined to regain power after more than 25 years. Meanwhile, the Congress, which governed Delhi for 15 years until 2013, is seeking a resurgence after failing to secure a single seat in the previous two elections.

Speaking to reporters, the AAP candidate for the Greater Kailash Assembly seat stated, “You’ve been here since morning trying to influence the elections. Why have the barricades been set up? Which senior officer from the Delhi Police authorized this? This is all aimed at disrupting the local villagers. The Malviya Nagar ACP and SHO are openly carrying out these actions wherever AAP has a strong presence.”

“Last night, the SHO even conducted a raid on our private premises. In this area, 21,000 people are expected to vote, yet the police are imposing restrictions at all 17-18 polling booths in Chirag Delhi. Voters are unable to reach the polling stations either by metro or by road. Did Virendra Sachdeva or President Murmu have to walk 200 meters from their vehicles to vote? There are no clear guidelines on this,” he added.

A total of 699 candidates are contesting in the elections, with both the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress fielding 70 candidates each, while the BJP has put forward 68 candidates and allocated two seats to its allies, JD(U) and LJP. In the key New Delhi constituency, where AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is vying to maintain his position, the BJP and Congress have nominated the sons of former Chief Ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh and Sandeep Dikshit, respectively.