The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-election results for 12 wards were declared today, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the leading performer by winning seven seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured three wards, while Congress and the Left picked up one seat each.

BJP maintains edge in civic bypolls

Voting was conducted on November 30 across 12 wards, nine of which were earlier represented by BJP councillors. The remaining three were held by AAP. This round of bypolls witnessed a voter turnout of 38.51%, lower compared to 50.47% recorded in the 2022 civic elections.

The counting process was carried out at 10 centres — including Kanjhawala, Pitampura, Civil Lines, Rouse Avenue, Dwarka, Najafgarh, Gole Market, Bharat Nagar, Pushp Vihar, and Mandawali — as shared by the State Election Commission.

Ward-wise highlights

• AAP’s Anil won the Mundka ward.
• AAP’s Ram Swaroop Kanojia won Dakshin Puri.
• Congress’ Suresh Choudhary secured a win in Sangam Vihar-A with a comfortable margin.
• BJP’s Anita Jain clinched Shalimar Bagh with 6,742 votes.
• BJP’s Suman Kumar Gupta won Chandni Chowk with 7,825 votes.
• AIFB’s Mohammad Imran led in Chandani Mahal, adding the lone Left victory.

With all results declared, the final tally stands at: BJP 7, AAP 3, Congress 1, AIFB 1.

A disturbing incident at a government primary school in Gwalior has triggered an official inquiry after a dead frog was found in food prepared under the Mid-Day Meal scheme. The discovery has renewed concerns over food safety standards in schools across Madhya Pradesh.

Viral image prompts swift action by district authorities

A photo circulating online showed a dead frog in a cooked vegetable dish reportedly served at the Government Primary School in Gokulpura. The incident came to light when teachers noticed the contamination before lunchtime. They recorded a video, alerted authorities and pointed out that complaints about foul smell, insects and poor-quality food had been raised earlier as well.

The uproar prompted immediate intervention from the District Panchayat. The Chief Executive Officer ordered a detailed probe, directing District Education Officer Hariom Chaturvedi to verify the video’s authenticity and review how the contamination occurred.

Separately, senior officials, including Collector Ruchika Chauhan, have sought reports from the school administration and the Mid-Day Meal provider. Authorities have stated that strict disciplinary action will follow if negligence is confirmed.

Renewed scrutiny of the Mid-Day Meal programme

This incident adds to ongoing concerns about hygiene and monitoring under the meal scheme, which is meant to improve child nutrition and encourage school attendance. Despite being a key welfare initiative, repeated lapses in food quality have been reported in the state, raising questions about oversight and accountability.

Delhi started the month on an unexpectedly cold note, with temperatures dropping much lower than what the capital typically experiences in early December. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a minimum of 5.7°C on December 1 — the lowest first-week December reading in more than a decade.

Unusual chill grips the capital

IMD data shows that early December temperatures in Delhi usually remain between 7°C and 11°C. Instances of colder starts have been rare, with only a few years — such as 2012 and 2017 — recording single-digit lows around this period. In recent years, the mercury has seldom dipped below 8°C at the beginning of the month, making this year’s drop particularly notable.

IMD anticipates that the cold spell may continue, with parts of Delhi likely to meet cold wave criteria. Typically, the capital slides below 5°C only after December 10. Last year, temperatures reached 4.9°C by December 11, while in 2023, the minimum fell below 5°C on December 15. In 2022, the lowest was 5°C recorded on December 25.

Delhi’s all-time December minimum remains 0°C, recorded on December 27, 1930.

Winter forecast indicates longer, stronger cold spells

IMD’s seasonal projection for December 2025 to February 2026 suggests normal to below-normal temperatures across central and northwest India, while southern states and the Northeast may witness warmer-than-usual minimum temperatures. Parts of Rajasthan near the border are also expected to experience above-normal nighttime temperatures.

Delhi is already close to entering a cold wave phase — defined as a minimum below 10°C and 4.5°C or more below normal at two or more stations. The last time the capital recorded a December cold wave was in 2021, spanning four days.

IMD also predicts 2–5 additional cold wave days in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar this season. Meanwhile, regions such as Rajasthan, Punjab, and the Northeast may see fewer cold wave days, indicating a stronger winter in central India and milder spells in some northwestern and northeastern areas.