The brothers Anil and Vivek Singh, of Procam International, promoters of the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM), said at the outset as a tribute to the late Suresh Kalmadi, “I am sure Kalmadi will be smiling from up there,” flagging off the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) as thousands take to the Mumbai streets on Sunday, January 18. Kalmadi, a senior Congress leader and former Union minister, passed away in Pune on Tuesday, after a prolonged illness. He was 81. As a sports administrator, he was a towering figure. He was the former president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Athletics Federation of India, and the president of the Asian Athletics Association. Those who have followed the TMM through the years — the event is in its 21st edition this year — will recall Kalmadi flagging off the race through all the excitement and adrenaline as runners surged to the start line. MM promoters Anil Singh (left) and Vivek Singh Vivek said, “Kalmadi was a harbinger of change in Indian sport. I recall how he brought in ITC as a sponsor for athletics all those years ago, and because of this, we had a slew of Asian athletics meets in the country. He understood that for Indian sport to take that great leap of faith, we needed the oxygen of professionalism, top sponsorship and management to make that change. He gave the sponsors their mileage with great visibility and branding.” Vivek added, “Kalmadi was very fond of Anil, and both of us were struck by one factor — his attention to detail. He could look at both the macro picture and the micro one, without missing a beat.” A great supporter of the Mumbai marathon, Anil recalled how he and his brother were buoyed by Kalmadi’s belief in them. Both said, “Initially, Kalmadi did wonder more than two decades ago how these two young men would pull off an event of this magnitude. Yet, he was a visionary, spirited and tough, and we ‘felt’ his heft and presence throughout.” In the end, Anil said it was Kalmadi who recognised the importance of intersecting sport with professionalism and entrepreneurship; together, the two could transform the sporting landscape.” Narinder D Batra, who headed the IOA from 2017 to 2022, said on Facebook, “Deeply pained by the passing of my dear and respected friend Mr Suresh Kalmadi, former president of the Indian Olympic Association and a seasoned politician. He devoted his life to public service and Indian sport with passion and conviction. His warmth, friendship, and contributions will be remembered always.”
07 January,2026 08:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharFor the past 15 days, residents of Bageshri CHS in Santacruz West have been grappling with contaminated drinking water, raising serious health concerns and causing daily hardship. Although the water shows only slight discolouration, which is not easily visible, residents say a foul, unbearable stench and altered taste make it impossible to consume. As a result, families have been forced to rely entirely on bottled and packaged water for drinking and cooking. Several residents have fallen ill over the past two weeks, reporting symptoms such as stomach infections, nausea and fever, which they believe are linked to the contaminated supply. “The smell itself is enough to tell you something is wrong. Even before boiling, the water gives off a strong stench. It has been over a week that my wife and I have been suffering from an upset stomach. Some neighbours have also developed skin rashes and allergies. For me, it started with throat irritation, followed by severe stomach pain,” said Sanjay Patkar, a resident. He added that the situation has disrupted daily life, particularly for senior citizens and children. Sanjay Patkar, a resident of Bageshree Society in Santacruz, reacts to the foul smell from tap water supplied to the building, which residents say has caused health issues for over two weeks. Pic/By Special Arrangement Another resident, Rupa Badkar, said they initially suspected a fault in their water purifier. “We thought our Aquaguard was not working properly and needed repairs or a candle change. But when the company technician checked it, he confirmed the filter and candles were functioning fine. He told us the water itself had a foul smell and advised us to boil it even after purification. I visited our family doctor three to four days ago, and he mentioned that many residents from our building had approached him with similar complaints of stomach ache,” she said. Following repeated complaints, officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s water department visited the society and carried out temporary measures, including flushing the pipelines. However, the problem has persisted, and the source of contamination has not yet been identified, forcing residents to continue purchasing packaged drinking water. “We are spending at least R300 to R400 daily on drinking water, apart from doctor fees and medicines. Buying packaged water for an entire building for over two weeks is not feasible in the long run. Clean drinking water is a basic necessity, not a luxury,” said Mahendra Chheda, secretary of Bageshri Society. Civic officials said further checks are underway to trace the cause of the contamination. “We did not receive any complaint 15 days ago. Complaints were received only on Friday last week. Our officials visited the building, checked the water and did not find any foul smell. Even so, considering this is a matter of public health, we checked the water again on Monday morning during supply hours. As residents continued to raise concerns, we collected water samples on Tuesday morning and sent them for testing. We have also directed the society to clean its water tanks as an added precaution,” said Pravin Dudhwadkar, engineer, BMC Water Department.
07 January,2026 08:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarMulund residents are facing inconvenience caused by the long ongoing Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project. From electricity cuts to air pollution, the area that once offered a prime standard of living has been caught amidst the city’s mammoth project. While residents understand that such projects take years to complete, people living along the LBS Marg want construction along the Sonapur junction to be completed as a priority. “Mulund residents are always surrounded by digging. First we had the Metro, then the GMLR; there are private companies with their connection lines. There is seemingly no end to it,” said Ramaswamy Krishnan, secretary of the Marathon Maxima residential society. Mulund Colony The other end of the society lies along a stretch of GMLR, which is still under construction. mid-day observed that the narrow spaces which were left for pedestrians and vehicles were already being used for parking. “This junction is already heavy on traffic, and the work has been underway for too long. We wish that the civic authorities would clear out at least this patch speedily,” Krishnan added. “The authorities need to think about pedestrian movement now itself. If they have to dig for a subway, now is the time,” he further said. Further up along the GMLR, citizens have been facing troubles with weekly power cuts for many months now. At one of the residential buildings in Mulund Colony, 81-year-old Venkatraman Iyer finds it difficult to navigate his way downstairs without an elevator. Venkatraman Iyer, a resident “We do not have a [power] backup for the lift, and the power cuts have been difficult for senior citizens like myself. Since I am home all day, I realise that we are losing electricity for a few hours nearly every week. My son finds it difficult to work from home when there are power cuts in the evening,” Iyer told mid-day. Voices Keziya Fernandes, Mulund Colony resident“With power cuts, we have been facing problems with the elevator too. Senior citizens in our building are held up, there is trouble while cooking, and our house help cannot work properly. Occasionally, we experience prolonged power outages. We also lose our gas connection at times, but we are intimidated accordingly Another problem I have been facing is safety. I try not to send my children downstairs to play in the evenings.” Ramdas Patil, Resident of Hoechst Quarters, Mulund“We lose electricity every 2-3 days in the morning; we don’t have electric backup. Since we don’t have a direct gas pipeline, we don’t face problems there. However, the GMLR work has led to air and dust pollution all around the area, and many of our neighbours keep falling ill due to respiratory conditions. We will recall all issues while casting our vote before this election.” Official Speak Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL)“No citizens from the concerned area have registered a complaint about frequent power interruptions. There is a possibility that there could be internal wiring troubles. If citizens register a complaint with their consumer code, we can get to the bottom of things.” Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL)“As a standard procedure for road diversion activities, MGL is given prior intimation, and the PNG gas supply of the specific area is temporarily stopped as a safety precaution to carry out the work. The customers are informed in advance of gas stoppage in such cases.” Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation“To control pollution, we are using anti-smog guns, providing green cloth, and sprinkling water on roads. There is a proposed cable-stayed bridge at Sonapur Jn which is expected to be completed by December 2026. One arm of the flyover (two lanes) from Srishti Oasis Bldg (near GG Singh Rd) up to Sonapur Jn will likely be functional by June. The entire Mulund side flyover is expected to be complete by December.”
07 January,2026 08:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarJeev Sabha, a group of at least five Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), legal experts, animal rights advocates, and activists, held a press conference on Monday afternoon at the Press Club, Azad Maidan, after the Supreme Court order on stray dogs. In its November 2025 verdict, the Supreme Court, taking note of rising dog bite incidents, issued orders directing the immediate removal of stray dogs from public institutions for sterilisation and relocation to shelters. This has ignited protests from animal activists who say shelters are ‘inhumane confinement’. ‘No shelters for dogs; instead, catch, vaccinate, sterilise and release,’ was Jeev Sabha’s message. The challenge Speaker Nandita Saigal, a retired animal welfare officer, stated, “We are gathered here because India is facing a preventable public health and governance challenge. A lot of fear and confusion is leading to rising conflict centred around community dogs.” Dr Anjali Chhabria, a well-known psychiatrist and founder of Jeev Sabha, pointed out, “There is no dispute that rabies is a serious disease. But is it a national health crisis? The crisis really is fear and misinformation.” Vaccine scene Dr Sweta Singh, associate consultant, Critical Care Medicine, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, said, “Rabies prevention is non-negotiable. Vaccinating dogs is nipping the problem at the source.” Incidentally, the vaccination has efficacy for one year, after which the dog has to be revaccinated. “People also must go in for anti-rabies injections when advised, post scratch or bite, as delay greatly increases risk.” Panellist Indraneel Roy, a government animal welfare officer, spoke about ‘open garbage’, which means an uncontrolled food supply for the dogs. “We need better waste management,” he said. On the issue of feeding the strays, Dhiraj Tejwani, CEO, Youth Organization in Defence of Animals, said, “Our feeders are often threatened; this stems from ignorance. If animals are not fed, there is a chance of greater aggression.” A collective Rhea Chhabria, founder of Pawdopt, emphasised the ‘collective’. “Every citizen is a stakeholder here. This cannot be left to the civic authorities/government/animal activists. We need citizens who contribute by not buying unvaccinated puppies sold illegally or from unlicensed backyard breeders. There must be awareness of that. A vaccinated community animal cannot give rabies.” The in-depth discussion concluded with speaker Sanhita (first name only), who called herself a “citizen, part of the collective effort”. “The narrative will change if animal welfare is not looked at as charity but as an industry,” she signed off saying. This meant that unpaid, under-recognised work by citizens, veterinarians, caregivers, and rescue workers must stop. The takeaways This was not a “human vs animal issue”. Jeev Sabha is not against the government. Mass anti-rabies vaccination breaks rabies transmission. It was about preventing human deaths through robust post-bite response with guaranteed availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG). “We need to co-exist,” said speakers who played slides of celebrities speaking glowingly for community dogs, signing off with “living together with these dogs puts the ‘wow’ into the bow.”
07 January,2026 08:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharShiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pushed for a mining project near a wildlife sanctuary despite being told by authorities that the area is part of a tiger corridor and that the venture would lead to man-animal conflict. Mining project located near Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary The iron ore mining project cited by Thackeray is located at Lohardongari near the Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary in Chandrapur district in eastern Maharashtra. SBWL warned of tiger corridor and human-animal conflict: Thackeray In a post on X, Thackeray said the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) had briefed the Chief Minister that the area is an important tiger corridor and wildlife corridor, and that the project would increase human-animal conflict, but the CM still pushed ahead with the plan. The bjp is out to destroy every bit of nature that exists in our country.Today, the State Board for Wildlife approved a proposal that opens up a mining project in Lohardongari near the Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary. The SBWL apparently briefed the Chief Minister that it is an… — Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) January 6, 2026 ‘BJP out to destroy nature,’ alleges Sena (UBT) leader The former state environment minister alleged that the BJP was intent on destroying natural ecosystems across the country. "Today, the State Board for Wildlife approved a proposal that opens up a mining project in Lohardongari near the Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary… but the CM pushed ahead with the plan," Thackeray said in his post. Questions raised over employment benefits and environmental impact Thackeray said the mine would generate only 120 jobs, of which just 32 would be permanent, and produce 1.1 million tonnes of output annually. "There is no study available on the influence it will have on the wildlife and the forest, but the BJP loves hacking down forests," he alleged. Earlier approval near Tadoba reserve also criticised Thackeray also flagged the approval of minutes from an earlier meeting that allowed mining in Marki-Mangli near the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, calling it another tiger corridor. "Interested to see how the CM pitches this at the Mumbai Climate Week and to global agencies that will attend it," said the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Worli. BJP accused of environmentally damaging Vidarbha The Vidarbha region, which has sent several elected representatives to the BJP, is being environmentally destroyed through coal washeries, mines and deforestation, Thackeray alleged. "Then the government gaslights citizens about human-animal conflict," he remarked.
07 January,2026 08:32 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, immigration officials at Mumbai International Airport have intercepted around 28 non-resident Indians over the past two months for allegedly carrying Indian voter ID cards despite holding foreign citizenship. Immigration officials seized the voter ID cards and informed the Election Commission of India, which has initiated the process to cancel them. Most of those caught are citizens of countries such as Canada, the United States, Nepal, and Australia. The BMC elections are scheduled to be held on January 15, with results to be declared on January 16. Immigration officials said they have stepped up checks at Mumbai International Airport over the past two months in view of the polls. A source from the Immigration Department told mid-day, “Our teams are deployed at Mumbai International Airport to check passports and documents at immigration counters. We have been specifically alert about checking voter ID cards carried by NRIs, as they are not eligible to vote since they are no longer Indian citizens.” Most of those caught are citizens of countries such as Canada, the United States, Nepal, and Australia According to officials, several NRIs allegedly obtained voter ID cards by submitting false information to the Election Commission of India. “Many of them have family members residing in India and visit the country frequently on visa-free or long-term visas. They provided their relatives’ addresses and declared themselves as residents of India to obtain voter ID cards,” the source said. Another immigration official added that over the past two months, officers have questioned passengers identified as NRIs and verified their documents in detail. “During these checks, we seized around 28 Indian voter ID cards from different passengers,” the official said. Officials explained that NRIs are not entitled to voter ID cards, even though they may legally hold Aadhaar and PAN cards. “These individuals were allegedly voting in their countries of citizenship and attempting to vote in India as well, which is a serious violation,” the source said. Immigration officials said the voter ID cards were detected during routine immigration checks. “Passengers arriving at the airport are screened at immigration counters. When NRIs were questioned, some produced Indian voter ID cards. After verifying their nationality and records, the cards were confiscated and reported,” the official said. Immigration authorities have now forwarded the details of the cases to the Overseas Citizen of India section and the Election Commission of India, following which the voter ID cards will be cancelled. Get all BMC Election 2026 updates here | Your ward info here https://www.mid-day.com/bmc-election/ https://www.mid-day.com/bmc-election/know-your-ward
07 January,2026 08:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaIn a major setback to the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, nearly half a dozen party leaders, including a former corporator, a former University of Mumbai Senate member, and a party spokesperson, have quit over the last few days. Former corporator Santosh Dhuri met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis late on Monday night, and a day later joined the BJP. Dhuri is a close aide of MNS Mumbai unit chief Sandeep Depshande. Speaking with mid-day, Dhuri said, “I decided to quit as MNS chief Raj Thackeray surrendered his party to Sena UBT, headed by Uddhav Thackeray.” Meanwhile, former Shiv Sena (undivided) corporator Raja Chougule, who had earlier joined the MNS, has also resigned from the party. Chougule, along with MNS spokesperson Hemant Kamble, on Tuesday joined the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. In recent days, several other senior MNS leaders have also switched sides. These include former University of Mumbai Senate Member Sudhakar Tamboli and senior party leader Prakash Mahajan, the brother of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. Both leaders have joined Shinde’s Shiv Sena. (From left) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with former corporator Santosh Dhuri and BJP leader Nitesh Rane Raj Thackeray had quit the Shiv Sena in 2005, claiming he was being sidelined within the party, especially by his cousin Uddhav Thackeray and the latter’s close aides. A year later, in 2006, Raj formed the MNS, reviving the “sons of the soil” agenda on the same plank on which his uncle, the late Bal Thackeray, founded the Shiv Sena in 1966. The MNS made its electoral debut in the 2007 Mumbai civic elections, winning seven seats. The party improved its performance in 2012, securing 27 seats — its best showing in Mumbai so far. However, its strength declined after that, and in the 2017 civic polls, the MNS won only seven seats. Six of these candidates later shifted to Uddhav Thackeray’s camp when the Shiv Sena was still undivided. The downward trend continued in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the MNS failed to win a single seat despite contesting more than 110 of the 288 constituencies. Even Raj’s son Amit Thackeray lost his electoral debut from the Mahim Assembly constituency, finishing third. Now, burying 19 years of differences, the Thackeray cousins have come together for a cause of Marathi and Maharashtra. But, many party cadres from both camps have been upset with their leadership over ticket distribution and other issues, leading to mass exodus from the MNS. The string of exits comes at a crucial time for the MNS as it fights to retain political relevance following its poor performance in the 2024 Assembly elections and prepares for the upcoming BMC polls, widely seen as one of the most prestigious civic battles in the country. Get all BMC Election 2026 updates here | Your ward info here https://www.mid-day.com/bmc-election/ https://www.mid-day.com/bmc-election/know-your-ward
07 January,2026 08:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday clarified that polling will not be conducted in wards where only one candidate remains in the fray, even though the None of the Above (NOTA) option exists on ballot papers. The SEC said election rules do not provide for polling when only one candidate remains after the scrutiny of nomination papers and the withdrawal of other candidates. This effectively shuts the door on demands for voting in single-candidate wards, despite the presence of the NOTA option on ballot papers. Several political parties, most notably the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, have argued that elections should still be held even if only one valid nomination remains. They have maintained that voters should be allowed to exercise their right to vote through the NOTA option rather than seeing candidates declared elected unopposed. However, when mid-day sought clarification from the SEC, the commission ruled out any such possibility. “In such cases, there is no provision for conducting polling, even though the NOTA option exists,” said Dinesh Waghmare of the State Election Commission, replying to a text message. On Monday, MNS leader Avinash Jadhav met officials of the State Election Commission and also filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, challenging the validity of unopposed victories. Earlier, on Saturday, the SEC had sought a detailed report on all instances of candidates being elected unopposed in the ongoing municipal elections across Maharashtra. While the MNS has challenged the election of 66 unopposed candidates, the SEC said it does not yet have a consolidated final count. However, inputs from political parties and media organisations indicate that around 70 candidates have been elected unopposed so far. According to available data, the Bharatiya Janata Party leads the tally with 44 unopposed winners, followed by the Shiv Sena with 22. The Nationalist Congress Party has two such candidates, while two others belong to smaller parties or are independents. Get all BMC Election 2026 updates here | Your ward info here https://www.mid-day.com/bmc-election/ https://www.mid-day.com/bmc-election/know-your-ward
07 January,2026 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarFollowing a mid-day report highlighting the dangers posed by unmarked speed breakers, the Public Works Department (PWD) has initiated work to paint speed breakers on the internal roads of Aarey Milk Colony, aiming to improve visibility and enhance safety for motorists and two-wheeler riders, especially at night. On January 3, mid-day published a report which pointed out that while the PWD had begun installing speed breakers on Aarey’s internal roads to protect commuters and wildlife, many of them lacked reflective paint and warning signs. As a result, the speed breakers were barely visible after dark, posing a serious risk to two-wheeler riders. After the issue was highlighted by mid-day, the PWD began painting white markings on the speed breakers. Unmarked speed breakers on a road at Aarey. Pics/Satej Shinde Aarey resident and nature lover Aditya Shinde welcomed the move. “It is encouraging to see that following a mid-day report, the authorities have taken note of the issue and begun painting the speed breakers. We hope the markings will be repainted regularly once they fade. Additionally, installing proper speed-breaker signage and cat’s eyes is crucial, as these measures significantly improve visibility and act as vital alerts for motorists and two-wheeler riders,” he said. Clearly marked speed breakers at Aarey Milk Colony after the PWD applied white paint to improve night-time visibility On Tuesday, mid-day visited the internal roads at Aarey Milk Colony and observed that several speed breakers had been painted white. However, at a few locations, the paint was already fading. Local residents said better-quality paint should be used to ensure the markings last longer and remain clearly visible. Sources in the PWD said an additional coat of white paint will be applied to the already painted speed breakers to prevent quick fading. Earlier, on March 5, mid-day had published a report titled PWD works on Aarey roads as survey identifies 43 wildlife crossing points. The story explained how members of the Urban Joint Forest Management Committees had surveyed the area and identified 43 locations where wild animals frequently cross. Their report was submitted to the additional principal chief conservator of forests, Western Wildlife Region. The Aarey police have also suggested locations for speed breakers on the main road to the BMC, though no progress has been made on that front. Unmarked speed breakers inside Aarey Milk Colony, barely visible after dark and flagged as a safety concern. Pics/Satej Shinde Aarey Milk Colony is an ecologically sensitive area, with 812 acres falling within the SGNP boundary. The region is home to diverse wildlife, including leopards, jungle cats, spotted deer, sambar deer, rusty-spotted cats, small Indian civets, palm civets, and several species of reptiles and birds.
07 January,2026 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavOn track in 2026 Perhaps keeping up with his New Year resolutions, a man performs Surya Namaskar near the railway workshop at Prabhadevi railway station A century of change (From left) The first iteration of the Del House; the new plaque commemorating the centennial. Pics Courtesy/Debasish Chakraverty In A city that is constantly undergoing a makeover, a few addresses manage to survive change. For history enthusiast Debasish Chakraverty, the Del House on Santacruz’s Central Avenue is one such place. “The first iteration of Del House was a mansion named after Delphine D’Sa. It later became the apartments where I grew up in the late 1970s. Over the years, I had spoken to many old residents to learn about the history of the place. When I found out that 2026 marked 100 years of Del House, we thought it would be nice to commemorate it with a plaque,” he shared with us. Ode to a master A moment from a previous performance Seventy musicians will join a tribute to Saint Thyagaraja in Sion this evening. Considered to be one of the musical geniuses who laid the foundation of Carnatic music in India, the homage will be hosted at the Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium, a longstanding cornerstone of the art form in the city. “One of the highlights is a rendition of Pancharatna Kritis (five gems), in the ragas Nattai, Gowlai, Arabhi, Varali and Sri, sung in unison,” revealed V Shankar, director, Shanmukhananda Fine Arts Society. Cocktails on course A view of the the new cocktail space The Mahalaxmi Racecourse has a new invite-only cocktail-forward aperitivo bar, Fielia. Designed by Gauri Khan, and helmed by Afsana Verma, Amit Verma, and Dhaval Udeshi, the ‘cinematic and modern design’ resides inside a newly transformed century-old racecourse mill to mirror the ambience of vintage theatre galleries. Dhaval Udeshi “Fielia is meant to be more than a bar,” shared Udeshi, Afsana Verma added, “The Race Course has a certain romance to it — a history, an aura, a sense of old Bombay that still lingers. For us, it was the perfect setting for a bar that’s intentionally intimate and invitation-only.” The bar is designed to cater to the concept of cocktail cinema, held up by the cocktails by Fay Barretto, and the indulgent culinary design by chef Hitesh Shanbhag. Tagore for Mumbaikars Annusree Bonnerjee at a performance. Pic Courtesy/Instagram The city will welcome a celebration of the cultural legacy of Rabindranath Tagore with Shahana Tagore Centre’s Tagore Lit-Arts Fest in February. The two-day festival, in collaboration with PCAAM’s Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, will be held on February 20 and 21. From discussions to musical and classical dance performances, the festival promises a new flavour to the city’s festivities in 2026. Eye on cinema A moment from the film, Sabar Bonda The city is preparing for the 22nd edition of the Third Eye Asian Film Festival that begins on January 9. In addition to films in Marathi, Chinese, Kyrgyz, Japanese, Indonesian, among other languages, the festival will also host screenings of critically acclaimed hits like Sabar Bonda (right), Uttar, and Mayasabha. Readers might want to log on to @thirdeeyeasianfilmfestival for more details. White Roses take root in Bandra Heidi Kuhn and Dr Abraham Mathai at the plantation. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT On Tuesday morning, the Harmony Foundation in collaboration with St Andrew’s College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Bandra West, launched the White Rose Campaign — a global peace initiative led by Roots of Peace founder Heidi Kuhn, who is 2023 World Food Prize Laureate. A white rose plantation, symbolising peace and harmony, was also done at St Paul’s Institute of Communication Education in Bandra West. USA-based Kuhn spoke about the devastating impact of landmines across nations. Dr Abraham Mathai, founder-chairman, Harmony Foundation referenced current conflicts like Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine, stating these realities remind us that peace is essential to human survival and dignity. It was a moving morning, where hopefully students in attendance realised the importance of ‘rooting for peace’. As for Kuhn we learn she has a vision to transform ‘Mines to vines,’ by replacing deadly landmines with bountiful vineyards. From mines to vines — pretty fine, one may say.
07 January,2026 07:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a rally in Jalgaon district in support of Mahayuti candidates ahead of the local body elections, expressing confidence that the ruling alliance would receive strong public backing while asserting that rebel candidates would fail to win people's trust, reported news agency ANI. ‘People are firmly with Mahayuti,’ says Fadnavis Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Fadnavis said voters were firmly aligned with the Mahayuti alliance. "The rebels will not be elected by the people. The people are with the Mahayuti alliance," he said. BJP policy on dynastic politics reiterated Regarding dynastic politics, the Chief Minister said, "The BJP had a policy in Maharashtra regarding dynastic politics. New candidates will not be given tickets in this manner. There are one or two exceptions because the forms had already been filled out, and alternative candidates could not be found," Fadnavis said, reported ANI. Fadnavis responds to Savarkar-related remarks Fadnavis also responded to questions on recent remarks concerning Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, particularly on a BJP leader asking Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to accept Savarkar's ideology. He said there was no reason for Ajit Pawar to comment on opposition to Savarkar, while reiterating the BJP's firm stand on the issue. "I don't think Ajit Pawar has any reason to say anything about the opposition to Veer Savarkar. But the BJP's stance is that we do not accept the opposition to Savarkar," Fadnavis added, reported ANI. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi expresses confidence ahead of BMC polls Meanwhile, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday expressed his confidence in winning big in the upcoming 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, saying that the party has been getting a very good response wherever it fielded its candidates, reported ANI. Speaking to the media after addressing a public meeting, Owaisi said, "Wherever we have fielded our candidates in the municipal corporation elections, we have been getting a very good response. Our party will have many municipal corporators." Polling schedule for Maharashtra civic elections Polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state, including Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16. (With inputs from ANI)
07 January,2026 07:53 AM IST | Jalgaon | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
