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Maharashtra civic body polls today with focus on Mumbai and Pune

Maharashtra is voting today in civic body elections across 29 municipal corporations, with the BMC and Pune polls seen as crucial political tests.

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Voting is underway today for civic body elections across Maharashtra, covering 29 municipal corporations, with Mumbai and Pune emerging as the main political battlegrounds. The polls, being held after a long delay, are widely seen as a crucial test of political strength and identity ahead of larger state and national contests.

Polling began at 7.30 am for a total of 2,869 seats across 893 wards in the 29 civic bodies. The elections are taking place years after the scheduled term of most municipal corporations ended between 2020 and 2023. Voting will continue until 5.30 pm, while counting of votes is scheduled to begin at 10 am on January 16.

BMC election draws maximum attention

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s richest civic body, remains the centre of attention. Unlike other corporations, the BMC follows a single-member ward system, meaning each voter casts only one vote. In the remaining 28 civic bodies, wards have three to five seats, requiring voters to cast multiple votes.

The BMC poll is particularly significant for the Thackeray brothers, Uddhav and Raj, who have come together in its backdrop after two decades. The election is seen as an opportunity for them to reassert their claim as political heirs of Bal Thackeray and revive their influence in Mumbai, a city long governed by the undivided Shiv Sena.

Test of Marathi identity politics

The elections are also being closely watched as a test of the “Marathi Manoos” plank. Rooted in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement of the 1950s and shaped politically by Bal Thackeray, the Marathi identity has remained a defining feature of Mumbai’s politics and a core theme for the Thackeray-led parties, particularly the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

BJP-Shinde alliance and NCP in fray

For Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who split the Shiv Sena in 2022, the civic polls offer a chance to regain lost ground and reinforce his claim as Bal Thackeray’s political successor. His alliance partner, the BJP, is contesting 137 of the BMC’s 227 seats, while the Shinde-led Sena is contesting the remaining 90. The BJP, which won 82 seats in the last BMC election in 2019, is aiming to significantly improve its tally.

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party is contesting the polls independently after differences with the BJP over leadership issues. The party is hoping to regain influence, especially in Pune, where the undivided NCP had controlled the civic body for a decade between 2007 and 2017.

With high political stakes, delayed polls and shifting alliances, today’s civic elections are expected to offer clear signals about Maharashtra’s evolving political landscape.

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DMK leader’s son arrested after car rams family in Krishnagiri, one dead

A 20-year-old son of a DMK leader has been arrested for allegedly driving a car into four members of a family in Krishnagiri, killing assistant labour inspector Sivamoorthy.

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DMK leader

A 20-year-old son of a leader from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been arrested for allegedly mowing down four members of a family following a heated argument in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district. One person died in the incident, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Sivamoorthy, an assistant labour inspector and a resident of Krishnagiri. According to the police, the incident occurred outside his residence after the accused, identified as Adithya, objected to a two-wheeler parked on the road.

Police said Adithya was driving the car and began honking as the two-wheeler was blocking the road. Sivamoorthy and his family members reportedly stepped out to move the vehicle. During the exchange that followed, an altercation broke out.

Investigators allege that Adithya then rammed his car into Sivamoorthy, his son Kirubakaran, daughter-in-law Amsavalli and granddaughter Nilani. Sivamoorthy sustained severe injuries and later succumbed. The others were injured in the incident.

Besides Adithya, two of his friends — Rithik Kumar and Harish — who were present in the car at the time, have also been arrested. A case of murder has been registered against the trio and further investigation is underway.

Kirubakaran, recounting the incident, said the family had attempted to move the parked two-wheeler when the accused damaged it. He alleged that the men appeared intoxicated and tried to assault them with a stick before the vehicle was driven into the family.

Amsavalli said they had tried to defuse the situation peacefully but the confrontation turned violent, resulting in her father-in-law’s death and injuries to her child.

A police officer stated that Adithya’s father is a local functionary of the DMK in Krishnagiri district. The victim’s family has demanded strict action in the case.

Reacting to the incident, state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, questioning the state government over the episode and alleging that party functionaries were misusing their influence.

Police said the probe is ongoing.

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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