Maharashtra civic polls row: Uddhav Thackeray demands cancellation of unopposed wins; alleges ‘mobocracy’, Rs 3 lakh crore BMC scam

Maharashtra civic polls row: Uddhav Thackeray demands cancellation of unopposed wins; alleges ‘mobocracy’, Rs 3 lakh crore BMC scam

Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray (File image) MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday demanded that civic elections in wards where candidates—mostly from ruling parties—were elected unopposed be cancelled and the polling process restarted. Addressing a joint event with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, Uddhav alleged that democracy in the country…

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‘We will work on a new husband’: Donald Trump Jr’s ex Kimberly Guilfoyle creates a ripple in Greece, visits nightclub at 1.30am

‘We will work on a new husband’: Donald Trump Jr’s ex Kimberly Guilfoyle creates a ripple in Greece, visits nightclub at 1.30am

Greece’s health minister Adonis Georgiadis said people who never called him for anything have now started calling him, asking him about Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece, as her appointment raised several questions as to whether Trump was not serious about Greece etc., the New York Times reported. Everybody wants to meet her. When…

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Nepal interim PM’s husband to seek treatment in Delhi: Subedi shows no improvement; diagnosis remains unclear | India News

Nepal interim PM’s husband to seek treatment in Delhi: Subedi shows no improvement; diagnosis remains unclear | India News

Nepal’s Interim PM Sushila Karki and her husband Durga Prasad Subedi (ANI) NEW DELHI: Nepal’s Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s husband, Durga Prasad Subedi, is set to be flown to New Delhi for his medical treatment after he was admitted to a government hospital but showed no improvement.Subedi, 74, was admitted to the Tribhuvan University…

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Ashes: Australia coach says ‘spin bowling incredibly important’ as team goes without spinner in Sydney Test

Ashes: Australia coach says ‘spin bowling incredibly important’ as team goes without spinner in Sydney Test

Daniel Vettori assistant coach of Australia looks on during an Australian Test cricket squad training session at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images) Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori has backed the team’s call to go in with an all-seam attack for the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket…

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‘I requested someone to help me and that person was Ranveer Singh’: Senior paparazzo hails ‘Dhurandhar’ star’s ‘helping’ nature

‘I requested someone to help me and that person was Ranveer Singh’: Senior paparazzo hails ‘Dhurandhar’ star’s ‘helping’ nature

Social media drives paparazzi with likes. Varinder Chawla’s account got ICC-blocked 3 days over World Cup posts. In distress, he sought Ranveer Singh’s help. Ranveer’s team connected him to Jay Shah. BCCI resolved it in 15 days, praising their support despite busy schedules. Social media fuels the paparazzi world with likes and views. Millions scroll…

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‘Foul-smelling, discoloured’: Sewage in drinking water triggers Indore-like scare in Bengaluru; 30 houses on 1 lane hit

‘Foul-smelling, discoloured’: Sewage in drinking water triggers Indore-like scare in Bengaluru; 30 houses on 1 lane hit

BENGALURU: Sewage contamination of drinking water has left residents of KSFC Layout in Lingarajapuram, under North City Corporation limits, furious and fearful of an Indore-like public health crisis, with 30-40 households forced to switch to private water sources for over a week.Several residents said family members had been falling ill frequently over the past few…

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NYT reporter dialled Donald Trump 10 minutes after Maduro’s capture: What the president said in a 50-second call

NYT reporter dialled Donald Trump 10 minutes after Maduro’s capture: What the president said in a 50-second call

In the early hours of Saturday morning, at 4.21 am, President Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Ten minutes later, his phone rang. On the line was Tyler Pager, a White House correspondent for The New York Times. After three rings, Trump answered. By 9.45…

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CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Mamata Banerjee (File photo) NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, criticising the “procedural violations” and “administrative lapses” in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which is currently under way in the poll-bound state.Mamata Banerjee called the exercise “unplanned, arbitrary and adhoc” and urged the poll body chief to stop the SIR if glitches remain unattainted.”I am once again constrained to write to you in order to place on record my grave concern regarding the serious irregularities, procedural violations, and administrative lapses being witnessed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal,” she wrote in a letter. She also expressed apprehension about the large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters, which she said would be a “direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance”.”I strongly urge you to immediately address and rectify the glitches, address the flaws and make the necessary corrections, failing which this unplanned, arbitrary and adhoc exercise must be halted. If allowed to continúe in its present form, it will result in irreparable damage, large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters, and a direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance, ” she further wrote.In November last year, describing the ongoing SIR in West Bengal as “unplanned, chaotic, and dangerous,” Mamata Banerjee said that the situation had reached an “alarming stage” following the deaths of multiple booth-level officers (BLOs), including an anganwadi worker in Jalpaiguri.In a letter addressed to Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee said she had “time and again flagged my serious concerns” but had now been “compelled to write” as the situation had deteriorated sharply.She wrote that the manner in which the EC had pushed the SIR onto officials and residents was “not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous”, alleging the absence of basic preparedness, clear communication, or adequate planning.According to her, the process has been “crippled from day one” by poor training, confusion over mandatory documentation, and the near impossibility of meeting voters during their work hours.She warned that the credibility of the voter roll itself was at risk, saying BLOs were being forced to work “far beyond human limits” while balancing their principal duties as teachers and frontline workers.Banerjee said most BLOs were struggling with online submissions because of server failures and repeated data mismatches, making it “almost certain” that accurate voter data could not be uploaded by the 4 December deadline. She added that many BLOs, under fear of punitive action, were being pushed to submit incorrect entries, “risking disenfranchisement of genuine voters”.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMatter Of Deep Concern: MEA Reacts To US Strikes On Venezuela, Urges Restraint’Lunatic Rulers’: Shashi Tharoor, Singhvi, Owaisi, Other Indian Leaders On US Strikes In VenezuelaIndian Army Raises Bhairav Special Force With Over One Lakh Drone Operatives For Modern WarfareCM Revanth Reddy’s Remarks In Telangana Assembly Sparks Row, BRS Slams ‘Filthy Language’‘If Trump Can Capture Maduro, Why Can’t Modi Bring Back 26/11 Mastermind From Pakistan’: Owaisi‘Avoid All Non-Essential Travel To Venezuela’: India Issues Advisory For Citizens After US Strikes”No Control Over Minority Violence In Bangladesh…”: Former Indian Envoy Slams Yunus Govt“Infamous For His Tour With Anti-National Propaganda”: BJP Rips Rahul Gandhi Over Vietnam VisitInqilab Moncho To March Nationwide Seeking Justice For Sharif Osman Hadi14 Naxals Neutralized In Sukma And Bijapur As Security Forces Launch Anti-Maoist Operation123Photostories8 common Japanese words and phrases worth learningNayanthara to Tara Sutaria: Decoding first looks of ‘Toxic’s female cast – Who understood the assignment best?Vaginal health: NHS doc debunks popular myths women still believe6 places where the world’s deadliest snakes are found7 fascinating creatures with blue-coloured bloodJay Bhanushali and Mahhi Vij: Tracing the former couple’s journey from love to amicable separationVaishno Devi Yatra 2025–26: RFID card rules, smart lockers, helpline numbers and helicopter fare revisionRelief for Pune commuters: Double-decker flyover at SPPU Chowk nears completion; Metro Line-3 trial beginsThe right daily walking distance to improve fitness, according to researchMorning or evening, when is the right time to consume magnesium supplement123Hot PicksUS strikes VenezuelaVande Bharat Sleeper TrainPublic holidays January 2026Gold rate todayDelcy RodríguezVivek RamaswamyBank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingSan Francisco 49ersBrittany MahomesNoah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield Net WorthWayne Gretzky Daughter Net WorthSidney Crosby LifestyleLeBron James vs Stephen Curry Net WorthTom BradyLeBron James WifeCam ThomasCharlie Kirk

CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Mamata Banerjee (File photo) NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, criticising the “procedural violations” and “administrative lapses” in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which is currently under way in the poll-bound state.Mamata Banerjee called the exercise “unplanned, arbitrary and adhoc” and urged the poll body chief to stop the SIR if glitches remain unattainted.”I am once again constrained to write to you in order to place on record my grave concern regarding the serious irregularities, procedural violations, and administrative lapses being witnessed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal,” she wrote in a letter. She also expressed apprehension about the large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters, which she said would be a “direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance”.”I strongly urge you to immediately address and rectify the glitches, address the flaws and make the necessary corrections, failing which this unplanned, arbitrary and adhoc exercise must be halted. If allowed to continúe in its present form, it will result in irreparable damage, large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters, and a direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance, ” she further wrote.In November last year, describing the ongoing SIR in West Bengal as “unplanned, chaotic, and dangerous,” Mamata Banerjee said that the situation had reached an “alarming stage” following the deaths of multiple booth-level officers (BLOs), including an anganwadi worker in Jalpaiguri.In a letter addressed to Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee said she had “time and again flagged my serious concerns” but had now been “compelled to write” as the situation had deteriorated sharply.She wrote that the manner in which the EC had pushed the SIR onto officials and residents was “not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous”, alleging the absence of basic preparedness, clear communication, or adequate planning.According to her, the process has been “crippled from day one” by poor training, confusion over mandatory documentation, and the near impossibility of meeting voters during their work hours.She warned that the credibility of the voter roll itself was at risk, saying BLOs were being forced to work “far beyond human limits” while balancing their principal duties as teachers and frontline workers.Banerjee said most BLOs were struggling with online submissions because of server failures and repeated data mismatches, making it “almost certain” that accurate voter data could not be uploaded by the 4 December deadline. She added that many BLOs, under fear of punitive action, were being pushed to submit incorrect entries, “risking disenfranchisement of genuine voters”.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMatter Of Deep Concern: MEA Reacts To US Strikes On Venezuela, Urges Restraint’Lunatic Rulers’: Shashi Tharoor, Singhvi, Owaisi, Other Indian Leaders On US Strikes In VenezuelaIndian Army Raises Bhairav Special Force With Over One Lakh Drone Operatives For Modern WarfareCM Revanth Reddy’s Remarks In Telangana Assembly Sparks Row, BRS Slams ‘Filthy Language’‘If Trump Can Capture Maduro, Why Can’t Modi Bring Back 26/11 Mastermind From Pakistan’: Owaisi‘Avoid All Non-Essential Travel To Venezuela’: India Issues Advisory For Citizens After US Strikes”No Control Over Minority Violence In Bangladesh…”: Former Indian Envoy Slams Yunus Govt“Infamous For His Tour With Anti-National Propaganda”: BJP Rips Rahul Gandhi Over Vietnam VisitInqilab Moncho To March Nationwide Seeking Justice For Sharif Osman Hadi14 Naxals Neutralized In Sukma And Bijapur As Security Forces Launch Anti-Maoist Operation123Photostories8 common Japanese words and phrases worth learningNayanthara to Tara Sutaria: Decoding first looks of ‘Toxic’s female cast – Who understood the assignment best?Vaginal health: NHS doc debunks popular myths women still believe6 places where the world’s deadliest snakes are found7 fascinating creatures with blue-coloured bloodJay Bhanushali and Mahhi Vij: Tracing the former couple’s journey from love to amicable separationVaishno Devi Yatra 2025–26: RFID card rules, smart lockers, helpline numbers and helicopter fare revisionRelief for Pune commuters: Double-decker flyover at SPPU Chowk nears completion; Metro Line-3 trial beginsThe right daily walking distance to improve fitness, according to researchMorning or evening, when is the right time to consume magnesium supplement123Hot PicksUS strikes VenezuelaVande Bharat Sleeper TrainPublic holidays January 2026Gold rate todayDelcy RodríguezVivek RamaswamyBank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingSan Francisco 49ersBrittany MahomesNoah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield Net WorthWayne Gretzky Daughter Net WorthSidney Crosby LifestyleLeBron James vs Stephen Curry Net WorthTom BradyLeBron James WifeCam ThomasCharlie Kirk

CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Mamata Banerjee (File photo) NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, criticising the “procedural violations” and “administrative lapses” in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which is currently under way in the poll-bound state.Mamata Banerjee called the exercise “unplanned, arbitrary and…

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‘Brought this embarrassment upon ourselves’: Shashi Tharoor on Bangladesh refusing to play T20 World Cup in India | Cricket News

‘Brought this embarrassment upon ourselves’: Shashi Tharoor on Bangladesh refusing to play T20 World Cup in India | Cricket News

Mustafizur Rahman and Shashi Tharoor NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh are once again at the centre of a cricket and political row. This time, it involves the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League.Bangladesh has asked that their matches at next month’s T20 World Cup not be played in India. Instead, they want the…

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Why the US ending the H-1B lottery is unsettling Silicon Valley and beyond

Why the US ending the H-1B lottery is unsettling Silicon Valley and beyond

For more than two decades, the H-1B visa lottery served as a quiet stabiliser for the US technology economy. Its randomness was not flawless, but it still provided businesses with something they value very highly: Predictability. Corporations would be able to chart recruitment cycles, educational institutions could synchronize the graduation of their students, and worldwide…

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Ayesha Khan shares heartfelt gratitude as Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar’s hit track ‘Shararat’ with Krystal D’Souza hits 100M views: ‘Surreal experience indeed’

Ayesha Khan shares heartfelt gratitude as Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar’s hit track ‘Shararat’ with Krystal D’Souza hits 100M views: ‘Surreal experience indeed’

‘Dhurandhar’ dominates 2025 box office while ‘Shararat’ with Ayesha Khan and Krystle D’Souza hits 100M YouTube views. Ayesha shared a theater clip, captioning her surreal joy and gratitude to casting director and producer. She vowed to rule with hard work, crediting family and team support. ‘Dhurandhar’ keeps the whole country hooked. The spy thriller tops…

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Leading lifestyle coach reveals carbs, and traditional foods like Idli/Dosa do not make you fat; ‘The real enemy is….’

Leading lifestyle coach reveals carbs, and traditional foods like Idli/Dosa do not make you fat; ‘The real enemy is….’

When it comes to weight gain, Carbohydrates have received unjust criticism, especially in the last few years, but it is not the whole truth. The fact of the matter is that consuming the right carbs in the right quantity, does not lead to weight gain.Recently, lifestyle guru Luke Coutinho took to his IG handle to…

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Aquarius Weekly Shani Horoscope, January 5-11, 2026: An old issue replays quietly, Saturn asks for growth

Aquarius Weekly Shani Horoscope, January 5-11, 2026: An old issue replays quietly, Saturn asks for growth

Saturn asks you to disagree with settling this week. Contemplate the areas of your life that feel stuck and forced. Have you sought comfort and sacrificed growth? Saturn comes to help you conduct a brutally honest self-evaluation. Recognise facets that do not touch your life anymore and begin the transformative process in a real and…

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“Two of Gisele Bundchen’s exes…”: Fans lose it as Tom Brady parties with Leonardo DiCaprio on a luxury yacht in St. Barts amid Alix Earle buzz

“Two of Gisele Bundchen’s exes…”: Fans lose it as Tom Brady parties with Leonardo DiCaprio on a luxury yacht in St. Barts amid Alix Earle buzz

Tom Brady lives it up in St. Barts with Leonardo DiCaprio on luxury yacht.Image via: Getty Amid the Alix Earle buzz, Tom Brady slipped straight into full Hollywood mode to kick off 2026. The retired NFL legend may no longer be throwing touchdowns, but his New Year’s appearances continue to grab attention just as fast….

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Nigeria: 30 killed in northern village attack; gunmen kidnap residents, destroy property

Nigeria: 30 killed in northern village attack; gunmen kidnap residents, destroy property

Representative image (AP) At least 30 villagers were killed and several others abducted when gunmen raided Kasuwan-Daji village in northern Nigeria’s Niger state on Saturday evening, police said Sunday. The attack is the latest in a cycle of deadly violence in the conflict-hit region. The gunmen stormed the village in Borgu local government area, opening…

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