Polling was underway for municipal elections in 116 municipalities and seven corporations in Telangana amid tight security on Wednesday. The voting, which began at 7 a.m. at 8,191 polling stations, will end at 5 p.m., officials at the State Election Commission (SEC) said. A total of 52,17,413 voters are eligible to cast their votes in 2,981 wards in the 123 urban local bodies. The SEC has deployed 1,379 Returning Officers and 41,773 polling staff for the polling process. It has arranged webcasting at all polling centres. State Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini has appealed to all voters to exercise their franchise. She said voters can download the voter slips through the SEC website or the TE-POLL app. A total of 12,944 candidates are testing their political fortunes in these elections. Polling is being held for 2,569 wards in 116 municipalities. Twelve candidates in nine municipalities have been elected unopposed. The SEC has postponed polling for a ward in Makthal municipality in Narayanpet district following the suicide by a BJP candidate on Monday night. A total of 10,719 candidates are in the fray in 116 municipalities. They include 2,358 candidates of the ruling Congress party, 2,478 of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and 2,252 of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Officials said 6,017 polling centres have been set up for polling in municipalities. Polling was on for 412 wards in seven municipal corporations. Candidates in two wards in Mahabubnagar and Ramagundam were elected unopposed. Authorities have set up 2,174 polling centres in seven corporations. As many as 2,225 candidates are in the fray in these corporations. They include 410 candidates of Congress, 401 of BRS and 382 of BJP. Director General of Police B. Shivdhar Reddy has said that tight security arrangements have been made for polling. About 3,000 additional police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. The police identified 1,302 polling centres as highly problematic and 1,926 centres as problematic. Additional forces have been deployed at these centres. Repolling, if any, will be held on Thursday, while counting of votes will be taken up the next day. Municipal chairpersons and vice-chairpersons will be elected on February 16. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
11 February,2026 11:19 AM IST | Hyderabad | IANSSeychelles President Patrick Herminie departed for home after concluding a successful visit in India. During his visit, he was seen off at the airport by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Anupriya S. Patel. The visit marked the 50th anniversary of the India-Seychelles partnership. Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on X said, "A fruitful and productive visit concludes. After a successful visit, President Dr. Patrick Herminie has left for Seychelles. He was seen off at the airport by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare & for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya S Patel. The visit came in the 50th anniversary of India-Seychelles partnership and witnessed several high quality outcomes in the fields of fintech, healthcare, defence and innovation among others." A fruitful and productive visit concludesAfter a successful visit, President Dr. Patrick Herminie has left for Seychelles. He was seen off at the airport by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare & for Chemicals and Fertilizers @AnupriyaSPatel. The visit came in the… pic.twitter.com/MecaavKWwF — Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 10, 2026 Earlier on Tuesday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh called on Seychelles' Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Barry Faure and Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Forces, Major General Michael Anselme Marc Rosette, in the national capital, with both sides agreeing to further strengthen defence and security cooperation. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the growing defence and security collaboration between India and Seychelles and reaffirmed their shared commitment to contributing towards peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). According to a press release, both sides welcomed the upcoming joint military exercise LAMITYE-2026 between the Indian Defence Forces and the Seychelles Defence Forces, as well as ongoing capacity-building initiatives. They agreed to further enhance the scope and depth of these engagements. Discussions also covered cooperation in training, hydrography, maritime security, as well as ships' and aircraft's visits and defence delegation exchanges. The Defence Secretary also welcomed Seychelles' participation in the upcoming International Fleet Review and the 2026 edition of Exercise Milan, scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam next week. "India & Seychelles reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing bilateral engagement and contributing towards peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region," the statement read. The two sides also exchanged views on MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), India's vision for inclusive, cooperative, and sustainable security and growth, and underlined the importance of a collaborative approach to addressing shared maritime challenges, capacity building, and development partnerships.
11 February,2026 11:16 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIA 30-foot-high and six-foot-wide vertical billboard featuring a condom with the catchline ‘Just Use It’ has been installed on the wall of a prominent mall in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram, in the run-up to International Condom Day (ICD), which falls on February 13, annually. The ‘blink-a-100-times-but-you-cannot-miss-it’ message is the initiative of Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF)-India Cares, partnering with Mizoram State Aids Control Society (MSACS). Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, globally renowned HIV activist and Goodwill Ambassador of AHF India Cares, said, “This is the first explicit vertical billboard in Aizawl displaying a colourful condom, where 95 per cent of the population belong to various Christian church denominations and often are uncomfortable with explicit prevention campaigns. I am sure we are turning heads with this billboard. The huge billboard put up at a strategic location. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Over the years, the support from church-based youth organisations for HIV prevention has picked up, and the state will hopefully witness the reduction of new [HIV] infections.” Dr V Sam Prasad, AHF India Cares country programme director, said, “Most heartening is the collaboration extended by MSACS and the health minister of Mizoram — Lalrinpuii.” Dr Prasad and Prince Gohil added about events in the ICD run-up, “We had a ‘Spot Cafe’ event where youngsters interacted over coffee. There were HIV testing, counsellors, and Free Love condoms at the cafe. We were struck, in fact, by just how sensitised the younger crowd was.” One of the other events coming up is a fashion show where designers have to craft fashion accessories out of coloured condoms. “Mizoram is big into music, football, and fashion. Now, designers will repurpose fashion to send out a message: no condemnation, only ‘condom-nation’,” concluded the activists. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 February,2026 10:44 AM IST | Aizawl | Hemal AsharTobacco baron’s son Shivam Mishra’s lawyer on Tuesday claimed that his client was not driving the luxury sports car when it rammed into pedestrians injuring at least six persons, even as police said CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts place him behind the wheel. His father, KK Mishra, also made similar claims. “My son was not driving the car. He was asleep. Our driver Mohan was driving the car,” he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 February,2026 08:39 AM IST | Kanpur | AgenciesIn a fresh bout of violence over the alleged assault of a Tangkhul Naga community member in Manipur’s Ukhrul, several abandoned houses were set on fire and shots fired on Tuesday morning. The state government has suspended internet services in the district for five days, police said. The fresh firing and arson in the Litan Sareikhong area comes a day after two Tangkhul Naga organisations restricted the movement of Kukis in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 February,2026 08:37 AM IST | Imphal | AgenciesThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that, in the wake of the Baramati plane crash, the audit will be conducted in phases, starting with larger operators. The special safety review, which began on February 4, also includes VSR Ventures. According to ANI, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA are making rapid progress in probing the fatal crash of the chartered Learjet 45, which killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, the pilot, co-pilot, and flight attendant near Baramati Airport. Last week, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that the black box from the ill-fated aircraft has been successfully recovered and is under analysis. AAIB and DGCA leading investigation As per ANI, while speaking to the media, MoS Mohol stated, “The black box has been recovered, and the AAIB team and DGCA are working on it. I believe the data will be downloaded as soon as possible. Some analysis will be done, an inquiry will be held, and after that, I think the preliminary report will also be released.” He highlighted that a detailed inquiry is underway, with the preliminary report expected shortly after the completion of initial data analysis and assessments. He added that investigation teams comprising three officers each from the AAIB and the DGCA’s Mumbai Regional Office arrived at the crash site on the day of the incident. The Director General of AAIB also visited the site the same day to oversee initial proceedings. “The probe is being conducted in accordance with Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025, to ensure a comprehensive and expeditious examination of the circumstances leading to the loss of control during the aircraft’s attempted landing amid reported poor visibility,” Mohol said. Black box data to reveal key insights Authorities have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that no premature conclusions should be drawn until the analysis is complete. The black box data is expected to provide critical insights into the sequence of events, reported ANI. Ajit Pawar was killed in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati, Maharashtra. According to the DGCA, five people, including the crew, died on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai to Baramati after a crash-landing occurred at the runway threshold in Baramati. The crash has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra’s political landscape, with tributes pouring in for Pawar and calls for enhanced aviation safety measures in charter operations. (With ANI inputs)
10 February,2026 10:35 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Kavita Mule was elected Mayor of Nanded city in central Maharashtra on Tuesday, winning by a margin of 35 votes in a three-way contest, an official said, reported news agency PTI. Another BJP corporator, Deepaksingh Rawat, was chosen as Deputy Mayor of the Nanded Waghala Municipal Corporation (NWMC), where elections were conducted last month alongside 28 other civic bodies across the state. Mule defeated her nearest opponent, Mahejbin Abdul Faheem, a candidate of the Congress-Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) combine, by 35 votes, the official added. The Mayor’s post was reserved for a woman, reported PTI. A special meeting to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor was held at the NWMC headquarters in the presence of the presiding officer and Nanded District Collector Rahul Kardile. In the 81-member corporation, the BJP secured a comfortable majority with 45 seats. The party was supported by the Shiv Sena, which won four seats, and an independent member also extended support to the BJP for the two posts. For the Mayor’s post, BJP candidate Kavita Mule secured 50 votes, while her nearest rival, Faheem, received 15 votes, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporator Alkesri Sumayya received 14 votes, the official said, reported PTI. BJP wins Chandrapur mayor’s post with Sena (UBT) support; Congress alleges horse-trading The Congress, which appeared set to secure the mayor’s post in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation, faced a setback on Tuesday after BJP corporator Sangeeta Khandekar was elected Mayor with backing from Shiv Sena (UBT). Prashant Danav of Shiv Sena (UBT) was elected Deputy Mayor. Nominations for the mayoral post included Manasvi Sandeep Girhe (Shiv Sena UBT), Sangeeta Mangal Bhoyar, Sangeeta Gopalakrishna Amritkar, Sunanda Dilip Dhobe, and Vaishali Ajay Mahadule (Congress), along with BJP’s Sangeeta Rajendra Khandekar and Sarika Sachin Sandurkar. Khandekar edged out her nearest rival by a single vote, thanks to the support of Shiv Sena (UBT), surprising political observers who had expected the party to back Congress. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged horse-trading, blaming Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) for the outcome. “The BJP secured 32 votes and Congress 31. Sena (UBT) has six corporators and was expected to support Congress, but instead backed the BJP. This will have consequences in the state,” Sapkal said. The January 15 civic polls had delivered a fractured mandate. Congress emerged as the largest party with 27 seats in the 66-member body, followed by BJP with 23. Sena (UBT) won six seats, Bharatiya Shetkari Kamgar Paksh (Janvikas Sena) three, VBA two, AIMIM and BSP one each, along with two independents. Sapkal added that the BJP gained the upper hand with support from AIMIM, while VBA corporators stayed absent during voting. “Had VBA, with whom we had a genuine alliance, supported Congress, our candidate would have won. This is clearly horse-trading,” he said. Addressing internal divisions in Chandrapur Congress, Sapkal asserted that party corporators were united and differences among leaders had been resolved. “It is only because of Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and VBA that the BJP could install its mayor,” he added. (With PTI inputs)
10 February,2026 10:34 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court has asked 17 states, including Delhi, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, to respond on the setting up of special NIA courts in places where 10 or more anti-terror cases are pending, reported the PTI. The move comes as part of the Centre’s effort to ensure faster trials and timely justice in sensitive cases. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria, directed the chief secretaries of the 17 states to reply within three weeks. The court underlined the importance of speedy trials, saying, “a delay in trial leads to injustice if an accused is acquitted after a prolonged trial,” as per the PTI. Centre’s plan and funding details The Ministry of Home Affairs has finalized norms to provide financial support for these special courts. Each court will receive a one-time grant of Rs one crore for non-recurring expenses and Rs one crore per year for recurring costs, which will cover infrastructure renovation, IT equipment, vehicles, and staff salaries. The Ministry also revealed that 16 special courts are being set up at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court Complex, dedicated to statutes like the NIA Act, UAPA, and NDPS. These courts are expected to be operational by April 2026, with judicial officers from the Delhi Higher Judicial Service ready to preside over them, according to the PTI. Existing NIA courts in states Some states have already moved ahead. In Bihar, the court of the District and Additional Sessions Judge-XV in Patna was officially designated as an exclusive NIA court on January 8, 2026. Exclusive courts are also functioning in Jammu and Ranchi, while Maharashtra’s Court of Sessions at the City Civil Court in Bombay has been operational since March 2025, the news agency reported. The Centre told the Supreme Court that it plans to establish a dedicated NIA court in each state and Union Territory, with extra courts in locations where more than 10 anti-terror cases are pending, ensuring trials do not get delayed. The Ministry’s report shows that Delhi has the highest number of pending cases at 59, followed by Jammu and Kashmir with 38, and Assam, Gujarat, and Kerala with 33 each. The Supreme Court will examine further aspects of the setup of these special courts after three weeks. (With PTI Inputs)
10 February,2026 08:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMarshals evicted opposition members from the Bihar legislative council on Tuesday, following repeated warnings from the Chairman that they let the House run by going back to their seats, amid a ruckus. Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh also suspended the opposition MLCs, most of them belonging to the RJD, for the day.Trouble arose after the opposition members rose in their seats, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over "rising" cases of crimes against women in the state. Amid the bedlam, minister Ashok Choudhary, who belongs to the JD(U) headed by the chief minister, was seen engaging in a heated exchange with RJD MLC Sunil Singh. Soon afterwards, the opposition MLCs stormed into the well, prompting BJP minister Mangal Pandey to interject with the remark, "their behaviour makes it clear that they do not want to allow the House to run". The Chairman urged the unruly opposition members to "take your seat, let the House run, or leave, at least for the day". As the opposition members continued to shout slogans and wave fingers at the Chairman and the treasury benches, Awadhesh Narain Singh said "let the marshals come and evict all of them. They are also hereby suspended for the day". The suspended MLCs include Rabri Devi (Leader of Opposition), Sunil Singh (RJD), Ajay Kumar Singh (RJD), and Shashi Yadav (CPI-ML Liberation). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
10 February,2026 08:10 PM IST | Patna | PTIOn Tuesday, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya raised the issue of land encroachment at Kolkata Port in the Rajya Sabha. He highlighted that the area has been publicly referred to as “mini Pakistan” by Kolkata’s mayor, a statement that triggered strong reactions and uproar in the House as reported by PTI. Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur, admitted that a significant portion of Kolkata Port’s land has been encroached, mostly by people linked to the ruling TMC government. The minister said that the port authority has filed court cases to recover the land, but enforcement has been difficult.Thakur said, “What the MP has said is right… people there have encroached all the place.” Bhattacharya noted that Kolkata Port is the single largest landowner in the city, with nearly 4,000 acres, and that around 170 acres of prime port land is under illegal occupation, especially in Garden Reach, Metiabruz, and Khidirpur. Row over “mini Pakistan” remark Bhattacharya’s reference to the area as “mini Pakistan” drew protests from TMC members, who shouted slogans and created disruption in the House. Thakur confirmed that the mayor had used the term in public statements, adding that documentation exists to support this. Opposition members, including Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP), demanded that the term be expunged from official records, saying it was inappropriate to label Indian citizens in such a manner. CPI-M MP John Brittas also criticized the remark, warning that calling it “mini Pakistan” could lead to diplomatic issues. Broader land encroachment issue Bhattacharya stressed that encroachment is a widespread problem, not limited to port land. “Whether it is the land of Indian Railways, whether it is the land of port, whether it is the land of DVC, or Farakka barrage... everywhere encroachment is going on,” he said, accusing the TMC of both encroaching public land and making controversial public statements as per PTI reports. The discussion highlighted both the serious encroachment problem in Kolkata and the political tensions surrounding the “mini Pakistan” remark. While legal cases are ongoing to reclaim the land, enforcement remains a significant challenge. (With PTI Inputs)
10 February,2026 07:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Corporator Sangeeta Khandekar was elected as the mayor of Chandrapur by a narrow margin of one vote on Tuesday, with crucial support from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), in a closely contested civic election. The backing of the Shiv Sena (UBT) group proved decisive for BJP in a House with finely balanced numbers. The mayoral poll saw hectic political negotiations and last-minute realignments, with every single vote proving critical. In contrast, the election for the deputy mayor’s post ended in a tie. Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Prashant Danav was declared elected after a draw of lots, as both the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates secured 32 votes each, making it impossible to determine a winner through voting. According to the party-wise strength in the civic body, the BJP has 23 corporators, Shiv Sena (UBT) has six members, along with two Independents, and one Shiv Sena (Shinde) member. A total of 35 votes were required to secure a majority. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) remained neutral during the election process. Congress cries foul as alliances and internal rifts shape Chandrapur result Political observers noted that internal factionalism within the Congress, coupled with UBT’s strategic support to the BJP in the mayoral election, tilted the outcome in favour of the BJP in Chandrapur’s civic politics. According to sources, Khandekar edged out her nearest rival by a single vote to clinch the mayor’s post with UBT’s backing. Meanwhile, the Congress alleged horse-trading and criticised the role of Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in the election. “In the Chandrapur mayoral election, the BJP secured 32 votes and Congress 31. The Sena (UBT) is an ally in the MVA and the INDIA bloc. With its six corporators, the Sena (UBT) was expected to support the Congress. But the party chose to go with the BJP. This development will have consequences in the state,” a Congress leader told reporters. Reacting to the election of the BJP Mayor, state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said the BJP gained the upper hand due to support from AIMIM, while the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi remained absent during the voting. The outcome surprised political circles in Maharashtra, as the Congress was initially seen as better placed to install its mayor following the fractured verdict in the January 15 civic polls. Till Monday, there was no clarity on alliances in the Chandrapur civic body. (With ANI and PTI inputs)
10 February,2026 06:19 PM IST | Chandrapur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1770733958952_d.png "RJD Mahila Morcha members stage a demonstration against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for allegedly using foul language against party leader Rabri Devi. Pics/PTI")
-1770730009801_d.png "BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya. Pic/X @SamikBJP")
