General
India reports 9,520 new Covid cases, 41 deaths
In the last 24 hours, India reported 9,520 fresh Covid cases and 41 deaths, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.
The overall nationwide death toll now stands at 5,27,597.
The active caseload has dipped to 87,311, accounting for 0.20 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.
The recovery of 12,875 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,37,83,788. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.62 per cent.
While the daily positivity rate rose to 2.50 per cent, the weekly positivity rate stood at 2.80 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 3,81,205 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 88.47 crore.
As of Saturday morning, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 211.39 crore, achieved via 2,81,63,153 sessions
Over 4.02 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.
Maharashtra
BMC elections announced but Mahayoti and Maha Vikas Aghadi clash over electoral pact

Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections have been called but the political parties have not yet reached an electoral agreement. The Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayoti have started holding meetings regarding the electoral agreement, but despite this, no conclusion has been reached by all the parties, due to which the electoral agreement of the political parties in the BMC elections is still pending. The Uddhav Thackeray government fell in the Maharashtra Assembly in 2022 and now Uddhav Thackeray’s power has decreased and only 20 MLAs of Uddhav Thackeray have won, while Shinde Sena and BJP have maintained their power. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections have been announced and on January 15, the people will exercise their democratic right and the votes will be counted on the 16th and an announcement will be made on the same day. A round of meetings is underway between Shinde Sena and BJP regarding the electoral understanding and seat sharing, but so far they have not reached any conclusion. An understanding has not been reached between BJP and Shinde Sena regarding the Mahim, Parel, Dadar Byculla, and Kalabha areas because these areas contain a Marathi population along with Uttar Bharatiya. Both parties have claimed these areas. Due to organizational issues, Shinde Sena has claimed these areas and has said that due to organizational stability, these areas should be given to Shiv Sena. BJP voters have increased in the last election. BJP’s strength has increased here due to businessmen and Hindutva voters. Therefore, now the possibility of an electoral alliance at the local level is clear, while the alliance is still pending in Maha Vikas Aghadi because due to the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, Congress and NCP have not yet taken any decision on the electoral alliance. In such a situation, if there is no electoral alliance in Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayoti in BMC, then this contest will be more interesting because in this election, two Shiv Sena, two NCP and other parties will try their luck and the number of candidates entering the electoral fray will also increase.
Maharashtra
Police attacked during group clash in Kandivali… Five arrested, police in action mode, case registered

Mumbai: The police have claimed to have arrested five people for attacking the police in the Kandivali area, while two are still absconding. According to details, some people attacked the police in Ekta Nagar, Kandivali, and after this attack, the video went viral on social media, after which the police immediately registered a case and arrested five accused. According to details, at 8:45 pm last night, violence was going on between two groups in Laljipara Ekta Nagar. Bhim Kanojia, a member of one of the groups, complained to the bat marshal and the bat marshal here instructed Pappu Jha to go to the police station and asked him to sit in the van. During this, he started arguing and arguing with the complainant, in addition to abusing him. When police officer Kanbhare and police havaldar Khot reached to help the complainant, he also beat them up and interfered in official work, after which the police arrested Vicky Singh, Pappu Jha from the spot in this case, while Chandrakant Jha, Suman Jha and Guddu Jha were arrested later. So far, 5 people have been arrested in this case. The police have registered a case against the accused on the complaint of the complainant Sagar Saddam Babar, a 32-year-old policeman. The police have booked them under sections of BNS. A case has been registered under sections 121(1), 221, 189(3), 191(2), 190, 324, 352 of the IPC and the search for the absconding accused is underway, confirmed DCP Sandeep Jadhav. He said that CCTV footage is also being taken for further action in this matter and a police team has been mobilized to identify the accused. The incidents of attacks on the police have increased to an alarming extent, after which the issue of police safety has now arisen. While the police provide protection to the public, now the attack on the police by miscreants is alarming. Earlier, an attack was also carried out on the police in Malad, after which a case was registered and the accused were paraded.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Civic Body Elections to Be Held on January 15; Counting Scheduled for January 16

Mumbai: (Kamar Ansari) The State Election Commission has announced that elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be conducted on January 15, with the counting of votes scheduled for January 16. The announcement brings clarity on the long-awaited civic polls in India’s financial capital.
The Election Commission announced the schedule for elections to 29 municipal corporations, stating that nomination papers for all municipal corporation polls will be accepted only in offline mode, and the voter list will be based on the July 25, 2025 electoral roll.
Election Schedule
Nomination Period: December 23 to December 30, 2025
Scrutiny of Applications: December 31, 2025
Withdrawal of Candidature: January 2, 2026
Final Candidate List & Symbol Allotment: January 3, 2026
Polling Date: January 15, 2026
Counting of Votes: January 16, 2026
The Mumbai civic elections form part of the broader Maharashtra local body election process, which includes polls for municipal corporations, municipal councils, and other local bodies across the state. The decision aims to complete the entire election process within the stipulated legal timeframe.
The BMC, India’s richest civic body, has been functioning without an elected house for several years and has remained under administrative control. The upcoming elections are expected to restore elected representation and accountability in the city’s civic governance.
Political parties have begun preparations for an intensive campaign, with key civic issues such as road conditions, water supply, solid waste management, flood control, housing redevelopment, and environmental protection expected to dominate the election discourse.
The State Election Commission is likely to issue a detailed election programme in the coming days, including nomination schedules, scrutiny dates, and campaigning guidelines. Security arrangements and election machinery are also being put in place to ensure a smooth and transparent polling process across Mumbai.
The announcement has generated significant political activity, with all major parties viewing the BMC elections as a crucial contest that will shape Mumbai’s administrative and political future.
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