Seven people, including three women, were killed and 12 others injured when a bus fell into a gorge near Vinayak in the Bhikiyasain area of Uttarakhand's Almora district on Tuesday, a police official said. According to the police, the deceased include an elderly couple. Almora Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha said the accident occurred when the bus, carrying passengers from Dwarahat in Almora district to Ramnagar in Nainital district, went out of control and plunged into a gorge six kilometers before Bhikiyasain. He said that upon receiving information about the accident, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams reached the spot and launched rescue and relief operations. Pincha said that six people died on the spot, while another succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital. Twelve people, including the driver, were injured in the accident and were rescued from the gorge and admitted to the hospital. A total of 19 passengers were on board the bus at the time of the accident. All the victims are local residents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. "The loss of lives due to a bus mishap in the Almora district of Uttarakhand is extremely saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest," Modi said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also expressed sorrow over the incident. In a message issued here, he said that those injured in the accident have been admitted to nearby hospitals by the district administration, and those seriously injured have been referred to higher medical centers for better treatment. Dhami also prayed to God for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The cause of the bus accident is yet to be ascertained. Pincha said that the reasons for the accident will be known only after the investigation. According to the list provided by the police, the deceased include an elderly couple identified as Govind Vallabh Mathpal (80) and his wife Parvati Devi (75). The other deceased are Nandan Singh Adhikari (65), Tara Devi (50), Ganesh (25), Umesh (50), and Govindi Devi (58). 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
31 December,2025 01:25 PM IST | Dehradun | AgenciesNew Year’s Eve celebrations across India are likely to face major disruptions as thousands of gig workers associated with leading delivery and e-commerce platforms prepare for a nationwide strike on Wednesday. Delivery partners working with companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart have announced plans to log off their apps or significantly reduce work, raising concerns over delays, cancellations and service breakdowns on one of the busiest commercial days of the year. The strike has been jointly called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), with support from multiple regional collectives operating across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal and parts of Tamil Nadu. Union leaders say the protest reflects growing frustration among gig workers over declining earnings, rising workloads and the absence of basic labour protections. December 31 is traditionally one of the highest-demand days for food delivery, quick commerce and online shopping, driven by New Year celebrations and year-end sales. Industry analysts warn that large-scale participation in the strike could severely impact last-mile delivery operations, affecting restaurants, grocery platforms and retailers that rely heavily on app-based logistics to meet revenue targets. According to the unions, delivery partners are increasingly being pushed to work longer hours while per-order payouts continue to fall. Workers have also raised concerns about the lack of insurance coverage, unsafe working conditions, arbitrary penalties imposed by algorithms, and the absence of job security. Despite being described by companies as “partners” and the backbone of India’s digital commerce ecosystem, gig workers say they are treated as disposable labour. Customers in major urban centres such as Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata are expected to experience long wait times, order cancellations and limited delivery availability throughout the day. Several tier-2 cities are also likely to be affected as regional collectives join the strike. Unions have stated that the protest is not aimed at inconveniencing customers but at drawing urgent attention to systemic issues faced by gig workers. They have called on platform companies to engage in dialogue and implement fairer pay structures, social security benefits and transparent policies. 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
31 December,2025 11:08 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSThe much-anticipated alliance between the BJP and NCP for the January 15 elections to the Latur Municipal Corporation (LMC) in Maharashtra appears to have broken down with the former announcing it will contest all 70 seats independently, reported news agency PTI. Talking to reporters on Tuesday, the last day of filing nominations, former minister and BJP's Latur civic poll in-charge, MLA Sambhajirao Patil Nilangekar, declared his party will contest all 70 seats in the LMC. He said the BJP had made sincere efforts to forge an alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Despite the willingness shown by senior NCP leaders in the district, he claimed the alliance was derailed due to interference by second and third-rung functionaries who threw a spanner in the works, reported PTI. He noted that NCP leaders, including Minister Babasaheb Patil, former minister Sanjay Bansode and MLC Vikram Kale, were keen on contesting the polls as part of the alliance, reported PTI. However, office bearers accompanying the NCP leadership allegedly sabotaged the understanding. Refusing to name those responsible for the break-up, Nilangekar advised the NCP's district leadership to remain cautious of such forces, reported PTI. Nilangekar asserted that the BJP would contest the Latur civic elections with full strength. Mahayuti allies go separate ways ahead of Jalna Municipal Corporation polls Meanwhile, after weeks of intense negotiations over seat-sharing, the Mahayuti alliance appears to have broken down ahead of Jalna Municipal Corporation (JMC) elections in Maharashtra with partners deciding to contest the January 15 polls independently, reported PTI. The collapse became evident on Tuesday, the final day for filing nomination forms, with alliance partners -- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) -- deciding to contest the polls independently. The NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a key Mahayuti partner, on Monday night announced its decision to go solo, alleging its strength was being consistently neglected by its BJP and Shiv Sena, reported PTI. Speaking to media persons, NCP Jalna district president and former MLA Arvind Chavan said BJP and Shiv Sena leaders were holding seat-sharing meetings without inviting representatives from his party, reported PTI. "We were not given due respect. Our party was ignored despite its organisational strength. Hence, we have decided to contest the elections independently and demonstrate our strength," Chavan said, reported PTI. On the last day of nominations, both BJP and Shiv Sena fielded candidates in all 65 seats in the JMC. January 2 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations. BJP leader and former MLA Kailash Gorantyal said although a seat-sharing formula had initially been discussed, disagreements arose when the Shiv Sena insisted on contesting certain seats claimed by his party. "As no consensus could be reached, we have decided to contest the elections independently," Gorantyal said, reported PTI. In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), has already finalised its seat-sharing arrangement. According to sources, the Congress has been allotted AB forms (given to official party candidates) for 42 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) for 12 seats, and NCP (SP) for 11. With the Mahayuti split and multiple parties entering the fray independently, the JMC elections are expected to witness a keenly contested multi-cornered fight. Jalna is one of the 29 municipal corporations going to polls on January 15. (With inputs from PTI)
31 December,2025 09:21 AM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondentAfter weeks of intense negotiations over seat-sharing, the Mahayuti alliance appears to have broken down ahead of the Jalna Municipal Corporation (JMC) elections in Maharashtra, with partners deciding to contest the January 15 polls independently. The collapse became evident on Tuesday, the final day for filing nomination forms, with alliance partners -- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) -- deciding to contest the polls independently. The NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a key Mahayuti partner, on Monday night announced its decision to go solo, alleging its strength was being consistently neglected by its BJP and Shiv Sena. Speaking to media persons, NCP Jalna district president and former MLA Arvind Chavan said BJP and Shiv Sena leaders were holding seat-sharing meetings without inviting representatives from his party. "We were not given due respect. Our party was ignored despite its organisational strength. Hence, we have decided to contest the Jalna civic elections independently and demonstrate our strength," Chavan said. BJP and Shiv Sena field candidates in all 65 seats On the last day of nominations, both the BJP and the Shiv Sena fielded candidates in all 65 seats in the JMC. January 2 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations. BJP leader and former MLA Kailash Gorantyal said that although a seat-sharing formula had initially been discussed, disagreements arose when the Shiv Sena insisted on contesting certain seats claimed by his party. "As no consensus could be reached, we have decided to contest the elections independently," Gorantyal said. In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), has already finalised its seat-sharing arrangement. According to sources, the Congress has been allotted AB forms (given to official party candidates) for 42 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) for 12 seats, and NCP (SP) for 11. With the Mahayuti split and multiple parties entering the fray independently, the Jalna civic elections are expected to witness a keenly contested multi-cornered fight. Jalna is one of the 29 municipal corporations going to the polls on January 15. (With inputs from PTI)
31 December,2025 09:18 AM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentAbout 60 people were injured a loco train carrying workers and officials collided with a goods train inside Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project tunnel in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district late Tuesday evening, officials said. Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said that there were a total of 109 people on the train at the time of the accident, which occurred late in the evening, and 60 of them were injured. He said that all the people have been rescued and condition of all the injured is stable. The DM said that one train carrying people and another carrying materials were moving inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the project, being constructed by THDC (India), when they collided. According to officials, loco trains are used inside tunnels for the transportation of workers, officials, and materials for construction work. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Chamoli said that 10 injured people have been sent to the district hospital in Gopeshwar for treatment. This 444-megawatt hydroelectric project is being built on the Alaknanda River between Helang and Pipalkoti in Chamoli district. The project is to generate 111 megawatts of electricity through four turbines. It is targeted to be completed by next year. 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
31 December,2025 09:09 AM IST | Gopeshwar | PTIDelhi Police has intensified security arrangements across the national capital, deploying nearly 3,000 personnel to ensure public safety and maintain law and order for the New Year celebrations. Speaking to ANI, Joint Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Jain said extensive deployments have been planned across Delhi. "As every year, Delhi Police has made elaborate security arrangements for this New Year. We have deployed static and mobile patrol teams at various locations," Jain said. He added that more than 50 checkpoints have been set up across the city to curb traffic violations and conduct checks for drunk driving using breath analysers. According to Jain, around 60 party zones, including popular markets, malls and nightlife hubs, have been identified where intensified checking will be carried out. Additionally, Jain said, "police officials have had separate meetings with owners of nightclubs and restaurants, and have urged them to act as responsible outlets, requesting them not to serve alcohol to underage, stop serving and close at the prescribed time." "Nearly 3,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure smooth movement, prevent untoward incidents and manage crowds," Jain said, adding that strict action will be taken against violators. In Ayodhya, authorities have divided the entire temple town into sectors and zones, deploying personnel accordingly while monitoring crowds through CCTV cameras and drones, as a surge of devotees continues to arrive for darshan. Police are also conducting vehicle checks and enforcing drunk-driving norms. Likewise, in Bhopal, police have intensified checking procedures, carrying out thorough searches of vehicles to prevent illegal transportation of liquor and conducting breath analyser tests. Bars and restaurants in the Madhya Pradesh capital have also been inspected and issued strict guidelines to follow during celebrations. 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
31 December,2025 09:00 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe family of Anjel Chakma, 24, who was killed by miscreants in Dehradun, has sought a capital punishment or at least life imprisonment for all the accused involved in the incident. Anjel, a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, was allegedly stabbed to death by some youngsters on December 9. He died on December 26, after being in a hospital for 17 days. His father Tarun Prasad Chakma, a BSF jawan, alleged that his son was “brutally attacked” when he tried to defend his brother, who was called “Chinese” by the attackers. “We will never get back Anjel, but his family wants capital punishment or at least life term imprisonment for those involved in the gruesome murder,” said Anjel’s maternal uncle, Momen Chakma. He urged the government to take steps so that people from the Northeast don't face racial hate crimes. Momen said, “The people of Machmara, irrespective of caste and religion, will hold a candle march in memory of Anjel on Tuesday, seeking justice for his family.” NHRC issues notice The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Dehradun district magistrate and the SSP over the allegedly racially charged killing and directed the Dehradun authorities to investigate the allegations and sought an action taken report within seven days. “Additionally, the authorities are directed to ensure the safety of the students of the North Eastern region in the entire state,” it said. The NHRC took cognisance under section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 based on a complaint which alleged that the student from the Tripura region was brutally attacked and killed in Dehradun, in a “racially motivated incident”. The complainant alleged that the incident amounts to a “serious violation” of the victim’s right to life, dignity, and equality. PIL in Surpeme Court A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking judicial intervention to address the “continuing constitutional failure” to prevent and respond to racial discrimination and violence against citizens from northeastern states and other frontier regions. “That the present writ petition is being filed seeking issuance of writ under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus, order, direction, or any other appropriate writ for the violation of fundamental rights and thus seeking judicial intervention to address the issue of racial discrimination and violence against Indian citizens from the northeastern states and other frontier regions,” the plea stated. It sought a direction to create a “nodal agency or a permanent body or commission or directorate” at the central level as well as at the level of each state where such racial crimes can be reported and redressed. Ministers visit Anjel’s house Two Tripura ministers visited the victim’s house at Machmara in Unakoti district, and handed over to his family cheques amounting to R9.12 lakh. Tripura CM Manik Saha on Tuesday said that his Uttarakhand counterpart Pushkar Singh Dhami assured strict action against the culprits. “Money will not bring back the life of Angel Chakma. We strongly condemned the murder of the MBA student. I had words with Uttarakhand CM yesterday, who assured me of taking stringent steps against the culprits,” Saha told the reporters. Of the total six accused, five have already been arrested, while steps have been taken to arrest the sixth one, the chief minister 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
31 December,2025 07:14 AM IST | Agartala | AgenciesExternal Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will represent the government and people of India at the funeral of the former Prime Minister (PM) of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, who was also the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar will be visiting Dhaka on Wednesday for the funeral, reported news agency IANS. Zia passed away early on Tuesday morning in Dhaka after a prolonged illness at the age of 80, her party confirmed. According to a statement issued by BNP, Zia died around 6 am at Evercare Hospital in the national capital, where she had been undergoing treatment for over a month, reported IANS. The former Bangladeshi PM was admitted to the private hospital on November 23 after developing serious complications involving her heart and lungs. However, various reports further suggested that she was also battling pneumonia during her final days. She remained under close medical observation for 36 days, with doctors describing her condition as fragile, IANS reported. Earlier on Tuesday, India’s PM Narendra Modi also expressed deep sorrow over Zia's death. Taking to social media, PM Modi remembered Zia as a historic leader whose contributions to Bangladesh and relations with India will always be remembered. ঢাকায় সাবেক প্রধানমন্ত্রী ও বিএনপি চেয়ারপার্সন বেগম খালেদা জিয়ার পরলোকগমনের সংবাদে গভীরভাবে শোকাহত।তাঁর পরিবার এবং বাংলাদেশের সকল মানুষের প্রতি আমাদের আন্তরিক সমবেদনা। সর্বশক্তিমান যেন এই অপূরণীয় ক্ষতি সহ্য করার শক্তি তাঁর পরিবারকে দান করেন।বাংলাদেশের প্রথম নারী… pic.twitter.com/Aezd2Hl7x6 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2025 "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh," PM Modi wrote on X. Hailing her leadership, PM Modi further wrote, "As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as India-Bangladesh relations, will always be remembered. I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace." Khaleda Zia was suffering from multiple medical conditions Over the years, Zia had struggled with multiple chronic ailments, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and long-standing complications affecting her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyesight. Her treatment was overseen by a team of specialists from Bangladesh and abroad, including doctors from the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Australia. Earlier this month, there were efforts to shift her to another country for advanced treatment. However, the doctors ultimately advised against international travel due to her weakened condition. The widow of former President Ziaur Rahman, Zia, made history as Bangladesh’s first woman PM and served two terms in office. (With inputs from IANS)
30 December,2025 08:14 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep concern over reports claiming that the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod Region was targeted, as the Russia–Ukraine conflict continues amid ongoing peace efforts. In a post on X, PM Modi stressed the importance of diplomacy and cautioned against actions that could derail efforts to resolve the conflict. “Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace. We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them,” PM Modi said in his post. Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace. We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2025 His remarks came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Ukraine had carried out a drone attack on President Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod Region overnight on Monday. As reported by TASS, Lavrov said that Kyiv deployed 91 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the attack. According to TASS, Lavrov confirmed that all the drones were intercepted and destroyed, and no casualties or damage to property were reported. He further warned that Moscow would respond to the incident, adding that the timing and targets of Russia’s retaliatory measures had already been decided. Despite the incident, Lavrov maintained that Russia would not withdraw from the ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. However, he noted that the attack would lead Moscow to reassess its negotiating position, TASS reported. Russia-Ukraine War: Zelenskyy dismisses claims as fabricated, says Kyiv will not undermine diplomacy Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Lavrov’s claims, describing them as “fabrications” and asserting that Ukraine would not take steps that could undermine diplomatic efforts. “Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team. We keep working together to bring peace closer. This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies. Furthermore, the Russians have already targeted Kyiv in the past, including the Cabinet of Ministers building,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X. Zelenskyy added that the claim was an attempt to weaken his peace initiatives, calling it “another lie from the Russian Federation". The developments come shortly after US President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday as part of continued efforts to advance peace talks aimed at ending the four-year-long conflict. (With ANI inputs)
30 December,2025 08:14 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAt least 32 people have fallen ill in Madhya Pradesh's Indore from suspected water contamination, prompting the administration to collect samples of drinking water for testing, news agency PTI reported. A local councillor also claimed that an 80-year-old man has died after drinking the contaminated water. However, the city officials and the administration have not confirmed the death yet. Speaking to the media about the incident, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hassani said that at least 32 people from the Bhagirathpura area have been admitted to different hospitals in the city, PTI reported. "Patients complained of vomiting and diarrhoea after drinking contaminated water," the CMHO highlighted. Hassani further emphasised that the drinking water samples have been collected for testing from the locality, and reports will arrive in 48 hours, PTI reported. Residents of Bhagirathpura said that they fell ill after consuming water from the Narmada River supplied to homes through municipal tap connections. Speaking on the concerning situation, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said, "We have sent water samples for testing. We can comment on the matter only after the test reports arrive." CM Yadav directs local administration to ensure prompt treatment Meanwhile, Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Yadav has directed the local administration to ensure prompt and quality treatment for all patients. According to Councillor Kamal Baghela, the residents complained of unusual smell in the water on December 25. "Perhaps some fell ill after drinking this water. Only after the test reports come will it be known how the water got contaminated," said Baghela, who claimed that one of the ill residents, Nandlal Pal, who was admitted to a private hospital, has died. Pal's son Siddharth said that his father was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea allegedly due to contaminated water. Moreover, residents have claimed that two women also died after falling ill due to contaminated water. Bhagirathpura resident Jitendra Prajapat said his elder sister, Seema Prajapat (50), who suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea allegedly due to contaminated water, died on Monday. He added, "My sister suddenly complained of vomiting and diarrhoea, and we did not even get a chance to handle the situation. She died on the way to the hospital." However, the administration has not confirmed any deaths so far. (With inputs from PTI)
30 December,2025 05:20 PM IST | Indore | mid-day online correspondentAjit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) worker along with his supporters, allegedly vandalised the party’s office in Nagpur after being denied a ticket for the upcoming Maharashtra local body elections, reported the PTI. The incident took place at the NCP office in the Ganesh Peth area of the city. According to sources, angry party workers smashed television sets and broke window panes at the office. The protest followed the party’s decision to deny a ticket to Avinash Pardikar, who was seeking to contest the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, as per the PTI. The situation arose amid strong competition for party tickets, with several aspirants eyeing the same seat. Party leader responds Speaking to reporters, NCP Nagpur city unit chief Anil Ahirkar said that such reactions were understandable in a competitive political environment. He stated that more than ten party workers were competing for a single seat, but only one candidate could be selected. He added that the party had made efforts to ensure fairness in the selection process, the news agency reported. Civic polls on Jan 15 Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra are scheduled to be held on January 15, with vote counting on January 16. The last date for filing nominations is Tuesday, while 2 January has been set as the final date for the withdrawal of nominations for the polls. Congress and NCP (SP) to contest separately in Nagpur civic polls Meanwhile, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents, the Congress and NCP (SP) will contest the Nagpur municipal corporation elections separately, with the Sharad Pawar-led party accusing the ally of not allocating 15 seats, according to the PTI. Nagpur NCP (SP) president Duneshwar Pethe claimed on Tuesday that discussions continued with Congress leaders until Monday night. However, later the leaders stopped responding to our phone calls, which indicated that they do not want to forge an alliance, he told PTI Videos. Pethe said the NCP (SP) had initially demanded 25 seats but eventually agreed to contest 15 seats; still, Congress ignored our demand, he added. "It seems the Congress wants to help the BJP and decided against allying with us", the NCP (SP) leader alleged. In the last election held for the 151-member Nagpur civic body in 2017, the BJP had won 108 seats, the Congress 28, BSP 10, Shiv Sena (undivided) 2, and NCP (undivided) one seat. Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra will be held on January 15, and the votes will be counted the next day. The deadline for filing nominations is Tuesday, while January 2 is the last date for withdrawal, and the final list of candidates will be published on January 3, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
30 December,2025 05:15 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
