National News
Maha local polls: CM Devendra Fadnavis casts vote along with his family
Nagpur, Jan 15: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday arrived with his family to vote in the local body elections.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, “Our democracy is a unit that can be considered the fundamental cornerstone of democracy. Therefore, voting in it is very important. I urge everyone who believes in India’s democracy to go and vote.
“I believe that voting is not only your right but also your duty. If we want good governance in a democracy, we must go and vote. That is why I have also voted. I appeal to everyone to vote in large numbers, and not stay at home. I urge all people to participate in this high spirit of democracy.”
Speaking to reporters, Amruta Fadnavis, the Chief Minister’s wife, urged citizens to exercise their democratic rights. “It is an important part of democracy to exercise our right to vote. I believe everyone should come out and vote,” she said.
She further said that voters should carefully consider their choices.
“People should think before casting their votes and decide who is best for development. It is important to see which party is working for development and delivering benefits to citizens at their doorstep,” she told media.
BJP spokesperson Asif Bhamla expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of the polling process. “I am happy to see that the electoral process is running smoothly. However, it is concerning that many people are not fully utilising this opportunity. As a Mumbaikar, I hope more citizens will participate as the day progresses,” he said.
The Opposition has accused the ruling alliance of unleashing money power and has also blamed the State Election Commission (SEC) for the mismanagement of voter lists
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Leader of Opposition in the state council, Ambadas Danve, alleged that the BJP was intoxicated with money power.
Danve, after casting his vote in Sambhajinagar, said, “I received calls until 4.00 a.m. about how the BJP has showered money across this city. The BJP is intoxicated and arrogant because of their wealth. BJP leaders talk grandly about development; if that is true, why do they need to rain down money? They should ask for votes based on their work, but that hasn’t happened.”
Meanwhile, polling for the 29 municipal corporations began at 7.30 a.m. and will conclude at 5.30 p.m.
While elections were originally scheduled for 2,869 seats, including 227 seats in the BMC, polling is now being held for 2,801 seats, as 68 candidates were elected unopposed. No voting will take place for these uncontested seats.
A total of 3.48 crore voters will decide the fate of 15,931 candidates, including 1,729 candidates in Mumbai alone. The counting of votes will take place on January 16.
According to the State Election Commission, arrangements have been made across 39,147 polling stations, equipped with 43,958 Control Units and 87,916 Ballot Units. In Mumbai, there are 10,111 polling stations with 11,349 Control Units and 22,698 Ballot Units.
Elections are being held in municipal corporations across major cities, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, Akola, Latur, Jalgaon, Dhule, Jalna, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Nanded-Waghala, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Malegaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Ichalkaranji, Ahilyanagar, and Ulhasnagar.
These elections are being conducted after a gap of more than six years, as the tenures of the municipal corporations ended between 2020 and 2023. Except for Mumbai, elections in the remaining 28 corporations are being held under the multi-member ward system, while Mumbai follows a single-member ward system.
Crime
Delhi Police crack down on illicit liquor, ganja; two arrested in separate operations

New Delhi, Sep 6: The Delhi Police have arrested two persons, including a woman, in separate operations in Sonia Vihar and Uttam Nagar for allegedly possessing and dealing in illicit liquor and illegal ganja, officials said.
In the first incident, a man was apprehended after police recovered 90 quarter bottles of illicit liquor from his possession in the Sonia Vihar area during the early hours of Saturday.
According to police, on Saturday at around 1:50 AM, constable Madan, while conducting area patrolling, received secret information regarding the alleged illegal sale of liquor at B-Block, Gali No. 29, Circular Road, 2nd Pusta, Sonia Vihar, Delhi.
Acting swiftly on the information, the constable reached the location and apprehended a person identified as Sonu Kumar (37), a resident of 2nd Pusta, Sonia Vihar.
During checking, police recovered 90 quarter bottles of illicit liquor from a white plastic sack that was lying near him.
Following the recovery, a case was registered at Police Station Sonia Vihar vide FIR No. 201/26, dated September 5, 2026, and investigation was initiated.
Thereafter, police also checked the residential premises of the accused. During the search, an additional 196 quarter bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from his residence, along with cash amounting to Rs 25,300.
In a separate operation, the Delhi Police arrested a 40-year-old woman for allegedly possessing and trafficking narcotic substances and recovered 1.157 kg of illegal ganja from her possession in the Uttam Nagar area of Dwarka district.
The action was carried out as part of the Delhi Police’s sustained campaign against drug abuse and the illegal trafficking and circulation of narcotic substances across Dwarka district.
According to the police, on August 13, at around 10:30 p.m., HC Jitender and Constable Aswir were conducting patrolling duty in the area of D-Block of JJ Colony in Uttam Nagar’s Shiv Vihar when they received specific information regarding the alleged illegal trafficking of narcotic substances.
Acting promptly on the information, the police personnel immediately proceeded towards the location indicated in the input. Upon reaching near JJ Colony, they noticed a woman carrying a plastic bag and became suspicious of her activities.
Police said that on seeing the personnel, the woman appeared nervous and attempted to avoid attracting attention. Sensing suspicious circumstances, the police staff immediately intercepted her and conducted an enquiry.
The woman was identified as Sunita (40), a resident of Shiv Vihar. HC Jitender immediately informed senior officers regarding the apprehension of the woman and the suspected presence of narcotic substances.
Following receipt of the information, a police team reached the spot and, complying with the provisions of Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the officials conducted a personal search of the woman.
During the search, police recovered a white polythene containing a substance suspected to be ganja from her possession.
Following the recovery of the suspected narcotic substance, Sunita was apprehended, and 1.157 kg of ganja was seized in accordance with the prescribed legal provisions under the NDPS Act.
On the basis of the recovery and the circumstances of the case, police registered an FIR under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Uttam Nagar.
National News
Hyderabad police foil attempt by BJP to take out rally to Charminar

Hyderabad, Sep 6: Police in Hyderabad foiled the attempts by the BJP to take out a rally from Balapur to Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar on Sunday, ahead of Telangana Liberation Day, drawing angry protests from the party.
BJP in-charge for Maheswaram constituency, Andela Sriramulu Yadav and other party leaders were detained when they tried to take out ‘Vimochana Jaitrayatra’.
The BJP condemned the denial of permission for the rally.
“The fact that the Congress government denied permission for a rally from Balapur to the Charminar Bhagyalakshmi Temple on the occasion of Telangana Liberation Day clearly demonstrates how much it fears democracy and the spirit of patriotism. Having imposed restrictions on ‘Vande Mataram,’ the Congress party is now obstructing even the celebrations meant to honour the spirit of independence,” reads a social media post by the party’s Telangana unit.
Meanwhile, Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao asked if celebrating Telangana Liberation Day is a crime in Congress-ruled Telangana.
“Having sunk to deep depths of appeasement, Congress Party has once again crushed democracy by “stopping the Vimochana Jaitrayatra from Balapur to Charminar and arresting Maheshwaram BJP in-charge,” he said.
“Why is Congress so afraid of celebrating Telangana Liberation Day? We may have moved far beyond 1948, but Congress mindset is still Razakar and Nizam DNA. In its rampant vote-bank politics and appeasement, Congress has forgotten that India is a democracy. BJP leaders are stopped, detained and arrested for everything, from dharnas and protests to even celebrating Telangana Liberation Day. Shame!,” Ramchander Rao posted on ‘X’.
The BJP is gearing up to celebrate Telangana Liberation Day on September 17. It was on this day in 1948 that the then Hyderabad State was annexed into the Indian Union.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Centre is organising Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest at this year’s event. He will hoist the National Flag and review the parade by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and others will attend the event.
The Central and State governments will be celebrating the day with different themes.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will unfurl the National Flag at the main event to be held at the Public Garden in Hyderabad. For the third year in a row, the state government is celebrating it as ‘Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam’ (people’s governance day).
State ministers, government advisors, and key representatives will hoist the National Flag and take the salute at the official celebrations in all 32 district headquarters.
The National Flag will also be unfurled at all government offices, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats.
While the earlier Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government celebrated September 17 as ‘National Integration Day’ in 2022 and 2023, the Congress, which came to power in December 2023, decided to celebrate the occasion as ‘Praja Palana Dinotsvam’.
National News
Delhi building collapse: 2 rescued, many feared trapped; RK Puram legislator monitors rescue operation

New Delhi, Sep 6: Following the collapse of a multi-storied building in Delhi Satya Niketan area, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) RK Puram MLA Anil Kumar Sharma said that several students who were residing in a Paying Guest accommodation within the structure, are trapped under the debris and that some of them are calling for help by making phone calls from beneath the rubble.
Delhi Police confirmed that two people have been rescued so far while maintaining that rescue operation is currently underway at the site.
Speaking to reporters at the site, BJP MLA Anil Kumar Sharma called it an “extremely tragic incident”.
“Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. Children who came from various regions to study here and were residing in a PG accommodation…the building has collapsed,” he said.
Maintaining that exact figures of those trapped cannot be revealed at the moment, Sharma said: “Students are trapped underneath the debris, that is clear.”
“Just now, two children were pulled out, and teams from the disaster management forces, MCD, and the police department have rushed them to the hospital. Other children remain trapped inside,” he added.
The BJP leader further said, “Some of the children are even making phone calls from beneath the rubble. Several children are still trapped. Continuous rescue efforts are underway, and we are praying for their safety.”
Anil Sharma said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has dispatched the full emergency response team to the spot and that Delhi BJP chief and MP Harsh Malhotra, is in constant contact over the phone.
“The entire administration is deeply concerned and closely monitoring the situation. Our foremost and immediate priority is to rescue the children by all possible means,” he said.
Meanwhile, a local who rushed to site following the tragedy, said: “There was a PG inside the building. Four floors were constructed which collapsed. There are several students trapped inside, including women.”
Another local added: “We have learned that around 20 to 30 students are trapped inside. This happened around 11:30 to 11:45 AM.”
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