Union minister and BJP MP Shantanu Thakur said Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee would “not be allowed” to offer prayers at Matua Thakurbari in North 24-Parganas if he visits the shrine with a heavy police presence.

His comments have triggered sharp political confrontation. Mr Banerjee is scheduled to visit Thakurnagar in Bongaon on 9 January, where he is expected to address a public meeting at Taherpur before offering puja at the Harichand Thakur temple, according to TMC leaders. Thakur, however, described the proposed visit as a “show of force” and warned of resistance from the Matua community. “Anyone is free to visit the Thakurbari, there is no objection to that,” Thakur said. “But if Abhishek Banerjee comes with a police force to demonstrate power, we will not allow him to offer puja. Why does he want to enter Thakurnagar just before the elections?” he asked, adding that thousands of Matuas would assemble and protest on the day.

The remarks have intensified political sparring in the Matua-dominated region. The TMC responded with a counter-challenge, asserting that no one could prevent Banerjee from visiting a religious site. District TMC president Biswajit Das said Banerjee would reach Thakurbari around 2 p.m. and stressed that every citizen has the right to visit a place of worship. TMC state vice-president Jayprakash Majumdar launched an attack on the BJP MP, saying: “Why would Abhishek Banerjee go with police? He will go with people. Is the Thakurbari Shantanu Thakur’s ancestral property?” He added that Harichand Thakur preached harmony and devotion, not conflict, accusing Thakur of tarnishing the legacy of the Matua movement.

The war of words has sharpened focus on Thakurnagar, a politically sensitive hub, with both parties seeking to consolidate Matua support ahead of the crucial polls.

A special vacation bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a petition related to the land measurement of a cemetery in Sambhal.

The court directed the petitioners to present their case before the concerned revenue authorities.

The division bench comprising Justice Rajiv Mishra and Justice Satyaveer Singh heard the matter. A total of 17 petitioners had challenged the land measurement conducted near the cemetery in the Allahabad High Court. The special vacation bench heard the case despite the court being officially closed.

While disposing of the petition, the division bench observed that the matter pertained to an alleged encroachment of eight bighas of cemetery land near the Jama Masjid in Sambhal.

The court stated that, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, it could not adjudicate disputed questions of fact.

The Sambhal district revenue team had carried out the land measurement exercise on Tuesday.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement on Wednesday, saying that Thailand has repatriated 18 detained Cambodian soldiers to Cambodia.

In the statement, the MFA stated that the repatriation is in line with paragraph 11 of the Joint Statement between Thailand and Cambodia signed at the 3rd Special General Border Committee Meeting on Dec. 27, 2025, which states that the 18 Cambodian soldiers will be returned to Cambodia after the ceasefire has been fully maintained for 72 hours.

The release is also in the spirit of the Joint Declaration between Thailand and Cambodia signed on Oct. 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry’s Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata confirmed on the same day the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers that Thailand had captured since late July.

“The return of our 18 soldiers is under the observation of the ASEAN Observer Team and the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Socheata said.

“Cambodia remains hopeful that this release will significantly contribute to building mutual trust and confidence,” she said. “We believe this creates an environment conducive to peace, stability, and the full normalization of relations for the benefit of both nations and their people in the near future.”

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday met Pakistani National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, where the two leaders had arrived to attend the funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia.

The Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, shared photographs of the meeting between Jaishankar and Sadiq. In the photos shared by Yunus, the two leaders are seen exchanging handshakes.

“Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, exchanges greetings with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Dhaka on Wednesday ahead of the funeral programme of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia,” Yunus said on X.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, exchanges greetings with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Dhaka on Wednesday ahead of the funeral programme of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. pic.x.com/1eLz0i8nAi

— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) December 31, 2025

This marks the first high-level interaction between India and Pakistan since the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor. It is not immediately known what the two leaders discussed during their meeting.

India and Pakistan fought a brief four-day war in May of this year following India’s Operation Sindoor strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were India’s response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.

Jaishankar visited Dhaka to attend the funeral of Khaleda Zia, the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh. During his visit, the minister met Zia’s son Tarique Rahman and handed him a message of condolence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India. Expressed confidence that Begum Khaleda Zia’s vision and values will guide the development of our partnership,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Besides Jaishankar and Sadiq, leaders from Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives also attended the funeral of Khaleda Zia. Begum Khaleda Zia died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. She was 80.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that those who stoke communal schisms and embrace identity politics are betraying the humanist teachings of Sree Narayana Guru.

Speaking at the 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage at Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Pinarayi Vijayan warned against efforts to confine the Guru’s universal message within the boundaries of a single caste or religion.

Emphasizing that Sree Narayana Guru was a world teacher who advocated humanism, unity, and brotherhood, transcending caste, and religious considerations, he said Guru’s philosophy was a strong challenge to the caste-based, oppressive social structures of his time, which he argued are synonymous with “Varnashrama Dharma”.

He criticized the ongoing attempts by “communal forces” to portray Sree Narayana Guru as a proponent of Sanatana Dharma, stating that the Guru in fact dismantled its rigid framework and proclaimed a new-age humanitarian dharma.

The event was also attended by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The pilgrimage, founded by Sree Narayana Guru at the Sivagiri Mutt, continues to serve as a platform for discussing social reform, equality, and the eradication of caste-based discrimination.

In a major relief to Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre has approved an allocation of over Rs 1,430 crore for the Union Territory (UT) on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the reconstruction of damaged public infrastructure and the implementation of disaster-mitigation measures across affected districts.

This significant development came to light during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and attended by all Administrative Secretaries.

The meeting was convened to assess the progress of key reform-oriented financial initiatives, such as the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) and SNA SPARSH, being monitored by the Finance Department and implemented across various departments of the UT Government.

During the meeting, Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D. Vaidya, was apprised of several major milestones achieved by the UT in securing central financial assistance across multiple sectors.

He further informed that following the recent natural disasters, including cloudbursts in parts of the UT, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) had visited Jammu and Kashmir. Based on its assessment, the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended the declaration of these calamities as “severe” in nature, paving the way for the substantial allocation aimed at the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and the adoption of long-term mitigation measures.

The Principal Secretary, Finance, presented a detailed status report outlining approvals received, expenditure incurred, and reform benchmarks achieved by the UT under various centrally sponsored and reform-linked schemes.

The Chief Secretary expressed gratitude to the Government of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs for the timely assistance, stating that the support would go a long way in strengthening the UT’s preparedness against future disasters, besides enabling large-scale reconstruction of damaged public assets, including roads, power infrastructure, and water supply systems.

He directed the concerned departments, particularly the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R) and the School Education Department, to promptly identify mitigation works eligible under the approved funding and ensure their completion by August 2026, in accordance with scheme guidelines.

Emphasising optimal utilisation of funds, the Chief Secretary called upon all departments to fully utilise the first instalment of Rs 944 crore released under SASCI and ensure that at least one bill under pending Centrally Sponsored Schemes is processed through SNA SPARSH. He set a deadline of January 7, 2026, for achieving this target, with the Finance Department tasked to monitor progress daily.

He also stressed the need for early identification of projects for the next financial year under SASCI, urging departments to prioritise works that can be completed within a single financial year, as mandated under the scheme.

Providing an update on SASCI implementation, the Principal Secretary, Finance, informed that 222 works across 27 departments had been approved, including 162 ongoing projects and 60 new works. Out of the approved allocation, Rs 944 crore has been released as the first instalment, against which an expenditure of Rs 758 crore has already been recorded.
He urged the departments to fast-track implementation, particularly 95 projects currently showing zero expenditure, to ensure full utilisation of funds within stipulated timelines.

He also said that the Government of India approved additional allocation under SASCI 2025-26 based on the progress made by J&K in utilising the initial loan of Rs 1,431 crore. It was stressed that for claiming this additional allocation, expediting ongoing capital investments and infrastructure works, progress in the implementation of CSS in SPARSH mode, and initiating Aadhaar-based payments for CSS and DBT schemes are essential.

The meeting was also apprised of fresh approvals under Part-II reforms, wherein Jammu and Kashmir has been covered under the Unity Mall initiative, applicable to Union Territories with legislatures. Under this initiative, the Government of India has approved special assistance of up to Rs 200 crore for the establishment of Unity Malls in Srinagar and Jammu.

Significant progress has also been made in the mining sector, with the Mining Department notifying a new Minor Mineral Policy introducing an auction-based allocation mechanism along with other reform measures. In recognition of these reforms, the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 100 crore under the Mining Sector Reforms component.

Additionally, under the Digital Public Infrastructure initiative for agriculture, Jammu and Kashmir is implementing the Farmers’ Registry (Component-I) and Digital Crop Survey (Component-II). The UT has successfully achieved these milestones under the Digital Crop Survey, leading to the approval of Rs 60 crore by the Government of India under this component.

The Chief Secretary took this occasion to reiterate the UT Government’s commitment to financial discipline, timely execution of reforms, and effective utilisation of central assistance to strengthen infrastructure, enhance resilience, and ensure sustainable development across Jammu and Kashmir.

Tata Group-owned Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which runs the Taj chain of hotels informed the stock exchange in a regulatory filing that it has sold off its entire 25.52 per cent stake in Taj GVK Hotels & Resorts Ltd to its executive director and promoter-shareholder Shalini Bhupal for Rs 592 crore.

IHCL stated in its filing that it sold its 25.52 per cent stake, which equals 1.6 crore shares, to Shalini Bhupal at a price of Rs 370 per share, officially ending its ownership relationship with Taj GVK Hotels & Resorts.

Following the transaction, a termination agreement was executed between Shalini Bhupal, G Indira Krishna Reddy, Blue Moon Trust, Moonshot Trust, Starlight Trust, IHCL, and IHCL. Consequently, the amended shareholders’ agreement dated November 4, 2011, and the name and trademark license agreement dated November 22, 2007, between the company and IHCL, stand terminated, with all rights and obligations under both agreements cancelled and annulled.

Accordingly, IHCL’s nominee directors have stepped down from the board of Taj GVK Hotels & Resorts Ltd with effect from December 30, 2025. Taj GVK Hotels & Resorts Ltd will now take necessary steps to change its corporate name by dropping the name ‘Taj’ from its corporate name in accordance with the termination agreement and adopt a new identity.

IHCL clarified that it will continue operating the existing hotels under the current hotel operating agreements already in place.

Following the stake sale, IHCL, Shalini Bhupal, members of the GVK promoter family and the company signed a termination agreement. Under this agreement, two key arrangements have been cancelled, the shareholders’ agreement signed in 2011 and the name and trademark license agreement signed in 2007.

Earlier in December 2025, Tata Group-owned IHCL had announced that it would convert its joint venture with the GVK-Bhupal family into a long-term management model.

The GVK-Bhupal family, which holds a 74.99 per cent stake, will continue as the promoter of the company. IHCL said the decision supports its capital-light growth strategy, under which it will continue to manage the company’s six existing hotels and an upcoming property in Bengaluru, even after stepping away as a shareholder.

The move marks a strategic shift for the Tata Group-owned IHCL, allowing it to focus on hotel management, even as it reduces direct equity investments.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the Sabarimala gold loot, is reportedly set to question Congress leader and UDF convener MP Adoor Prakash over his alleged links with the main accused, Unnikrishnan Potty. However, Prakash has maintained that he has not received any intimation from SIT to this effect.

It is learnt that an investigation team will collect information, including his Delhi trip with Unnikrishnan Potty. When Unnikrishnan Potty met Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, Adoor Prakash was with him. Pictures also emerged indicating Potty’s closeness to him. The UDF convener’s clarification on this was that it was just an acquaintance with someone from his parliamentary constituency. Investigators hinted that Potty visited Sonia Gandhi’s residence in Delhi twice. On one occasion, Adoor Prakash accompanied him, and Anto Antony MP was present on the other occasion.

Meanwhile, the SIT has decided to interrogate the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari and gold trader Govardhan together and gather decisive information related to the gold loot from them. For this, the SIT has sought the custody of the three and the Kollam Vigilance Court has sent them to police custody for one day.

The SIT has found that Unnikrishnan Potty, who delivered the gold bars to Pankaj Bhandari, who extracted the gold, and Govardhan, who bought the gold, are equally involved in the robbery. The purpose of taking the accused into custody and questioning them is to obtain details of the gold loot and also to know whether they received help from high-ranking officials in the government and political leadership.

The wife of a native of Koleri near Bathery in Kerala’s Wayanad district, who was found dead in Israel five months ago, died on Wednesday after consuming poison.

Reshma (34), the wife of Jinesh P Sukumaran (38), who consumed poison, was admitted to a hospital but died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment.

Jinesh was found hanging inside a room of the house where he worked as a caregiver in Mevaseret Zion, near Jerusalem, five months ago. The 80-year-old owner of the house was found stabbed to death inside the premises.

When their relatives arrived, they found the woman stabbed to death and Jinesh hanging in his bedroom. It was not clear whether someone had harmed the two or whether Jinesh had taken his own life.

Relatives said that Reshma was constantly in touch with Malayali friends and authorities in Israel to unearth the truth behind her husband’s death. Jinesh went to Israel while working as a medical representative in Wayanad.

The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Odisha, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday launched a mobile application to ensure real-time tracking and monitoring of fly ash transportation across the state.

The app was officially unveiled by outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja cum Chairman of the Board today at the Conference Hall of State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).

Before handing over of charge to Anu Garg as the new chief secretary on Wednesday evening, the outgoing chief secretary, Manoj Ahuja, launched the application that has been tested in field. It will be immediately implemented in four power plants, namely Aditya Aluminum, Lapanga, JSW Bhushan Ltd, Thelkoloi, Vedanta Ltd, Jharsuguda and Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC), Banharpali. The implementation will be extended to other power plants subsequently.

The application employs a three-tier operational structure involving power plants, drivers, and Regional Officers. Key technical features include Real-Time Tracking by GPS, QR Code Verification, Geo-fenced Routes, Verified Trip Closure and Alert generations for deviation.

The fly ash transporting trucks will start from the thermal power plants after scanning two sets of QR codes at the plant exit gate so that each of the trucks and their destinations are recorded online. The truck movements will be geo-fenced so that dumping of fly ash on unauthorized places can be prevented. Trips closure will be automatically done at the geofenced destination with uploading of a photograph of the empty truck.

The application will help to curb significant environmental threats posed by the indiscriminate and illegal dumping of fly ash. It will ensure that all fly ash trips are recorded online and managed according to the Fly Ash Notification provisions. By using real-time dashboards and automatic alerts, the SPCB can intervene immediately to prevent environmental violations.

Hours after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed that his country mediated in the India-Pakistan conflict in May early this year, the Opposition Congress on Wednesday demanded a clarification from the Narendra Modi government on the role Beijing played in stopping the Operation Sindoor.

Reacting to the Chinese Foreign Minister’s claim, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that first, it was US President Donald Trump who claimed that he personally intervened to stop the India-Pakistan conflict. Now, the same claim is being made by the Chinese side. “President Trump has long claimed that he personally intervened to stop Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025. He has made this claim at least 65 times across various platforms in at least seven different countries. The Prime Minister has not broken his silence on these claims made by his so-called good friend to this day,” he said on X.

Sharing a video of Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Rahul Singh, Ramesh said during Operation Sindoor, India was actually facing and fighting China, which apparently supported Pakistan during the conflict.

He said the Chinese claim of mediation in the India-Pakistan conflict appears to mock our national security. “Since China was decisively standing with Pakistan, China’s claims of mediating between India and Pakistan are concerning — not just because they contradict what has been told to the country’s people so far, but also because they appear to mock our national security.”

He further stated that the Chinese claim must be understood in the context of India’s relations with China. “We have resumed talks with China — but unfortunately, these talks are happening on China’s terms. The clean chit given to China by the Prime Minister on June 19, 2020, has significantly weakened India’s negotiating position. Our trade deficit is at a record high, and a large portion of our exports depends on imports from China. China’s provocative actions regarding Arunachal Pradesh continue unabated.”

The Congress leader said that amid such one-sided and hostile relations, the people of India deserve clarity on what role China played in suddenly stopping Operation Sindoor.

China’s claim on India-Pakistan ceasefire

Addressing an event on the International Situation and China’s Foreign Relations in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed that China mediated in resolving several conflicts, including India-Pakistan. “This year, local wars and cross-border conflicts flared up more often than at any time since the end of WWII. Geopolitical turbulence continued to spread… To build peace that lasts, we have taken an objective and just stance and focused on addressing both symptoms and root causes,” he said.

He further claimed, “Following this Chinese approach to settling hotspot issues, we mediated in northern Myanmar, the Iranian nuclear issue, the tensions between Pakistan and India, the issues between Palestine and Israel, and the recent conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.”

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, on Wednesday alleged that the appointment of two Circle Inspectors (CIs) with links to the CPI(M) in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the High Court to probe the Sabarimala gold theft case has seriously undermined the credibility of the investigation.

Addressing the media here, Satheesan questioned the basis on which police officials allegedly affiliated with the CPI(M) were appointed to the SIT. He alleged that the inclusion of these officers was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the investigation into the high-profile gold robbery case.

Satheesan further claimed that two senior IPS officers and a high-ranking official of the Crime Branch were behind the appointments. He alleged that the said Crime Branch official, who had earlier served in charge of law and order, was known for filing false cases against Congress leaders and was now working to undermine the investigation from within the system.

“The appointment of these officers is aimed at weakening the SIT and protecting the real culprits. This is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the investigation and shield those involved in the crime,” he said.

The Leader of the Opposition further alleged that certain sections of the police were acting at the behest of the ruling CPI(M) to derail the probe. “The objective is to leak sensitive information, divert the course of the investigation, and neutralise the SIT constituted by the High Court,” he said.

Satheesan urged the High Court to intervene immediately to prevent any attempt to dilute or derail the investigation and to ensure an impartial and credible probe into the Sabarimala gold robbery case.

BJP office bearers revolted in its Nagpur stronghold on Wednesday, with 42 of them resigning after the party directly distributed AB forms without announcing the list of candidates. Some others have filed nomination papers to contest as independents.

Former BJP Nagpur mayor Archana Dehankar’s husband Vinayak Dehankar has resigned from the party. Both the husband and wife had sought tickets to contest the municipal corporation elections scheduled to be held on January 15, 2026, but the BJP denied them tickets. Also, 42 BJP office bearers resigned from Ward 14 after former corporator Sunil Agarwal was not given a nomination.

BJP’s Ward 16 office bearer Gajanan Nishitkar also resigned from the party after an outside candidate was given a party ticket while former BJP corporator Harish Dikondwar from Ward 27 and Golu Borkar from Ward 33 filed their nomination papers as independents.

Speaking to media persons in Buldhana, Congress Maharashtra state president Harshwardhan Sapkal said, “There is massive confusion within the BJP over distribution of tickets for the municipal corporation elections, and the same picture will be seen in the forthcoming assembly elections as well. By pushing aside the original BJP as well as RSS workers and handing over the party to outsiders, control of the BJP will soon shift from the RSS headquarters in Nagpur’s Reshimbagh area to Adani and Ambani.”

Meanwhile, in a similar development, BJP workers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, upset about ticket distribution, rebelled against the party. Two women BJP candidates went on a hunger strike to protest against ticket distribution while another candidate attempted self-immolation by pouring petrol on his body.

For the past few days, BJP workers have been expressing anger and dissatisfaction over “outsiders” being preferred and “parachuted” at the cost of BJP loyalists.

BJP candidate from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Prashant Bhadane Patil protested loudly in front of Minister Atul Save’s office on Wednesday in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Many other workers also expressed displeasure against minister him and BJP MP Bhagwat Karad for not getting tickets.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, angry BJP workers attacked cars of party MP Bhagwat Karad and Atul Save after they alleged that the BJP leaders did not even bother to ask them why they were angry.

Later, the police safely diverted the vehicles of the minister and the BJP MP to bring the situation under control. The denial of ticket to BJP candidate Prashant Bhadane from Ward 2 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar sparked outrage among his supporters and prompted them to stage a huge protest at the BJP campaign office.

However, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District BJP President Kishore Shitole told media persons that strict action would be taken against those who violate discipline. “Such behaviour undermines party discipline. Action will definitely be taken against them,” he added.

Despite widespread speculations and rumours about his age as well as physical and mental health, Nitish Kumar succeeded in becoming the Chief Minister of Bihar after a landslide victory of NDA in the State Assembly Elections 2025. He took the oath of office as the Chief Minister for the 10th time along with 26 ministers.

However, political observers believe that Nitish’s path will not be easy in 2026, as whispers within political circles are growing louder that the BJP wants him to vacate the chief minister’s chair for a leader from the saffron party.

The conspiracy theory that “the BJP has been trying to politically finish Nitish Kumar” began circulating soon after the allocation of portfolios among the ministers. For the first time in Bihar, the Home Ministry is not with the Chief Minister. Nitish Kumar handed over the crucial Home Department to BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary. The BJP also took control of the post of the Assembly Speaker.

Nitish Kumar has continued to remain the dominant political figure in Bihar. Despite the other side having comparatively less political stature, he has so far managed to retain the top post with dignity and largely on his own terms. Losing control over the crucial Home Ministry is contrary to Nitish Kumar’s political functioning. In such a scenario, Nitish would prefer others to handle all the work, but the decisions should be in line with his wishes. This arrangement, however, leaves room for doubt and uncertainty.

Nitish Kumar has repeatedly said that he will not repeat the mistake of aligning with the RJD, a decision that he has made twice in the past. Despite his repeated assertion skepticism persists, because of Nitish Kumar’s reputation for political flip-flops and the arithmetic of 85 (JD-U)+ 35 (INDIA bloc)+ 5 (AIMIM)+1 (BSP) = 126 in the 243-member Assembly.

By demanding the Home Ministry and the Speaker’s post, the BJP appears to have made a concerted effort to firmly corner Nitish Kumar this time.

Speculation has also been rife that the BJP has been trying to engineer defection among the JD (U) MPs to improve its numbers in the Lok Sabha to ensure stability of its government at the Centre.

In this backdrop, 2026 is likely to prove to be a tumultuous year for Nitish Kumar.

The Haryana government has appointed Ajay Singhal, a 1992-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Haryana cadre, as the new Director General of Police (DGP).

The move comes following the retirement of officiating DGP Om Prakash Singh at the end of his tenure on December 31, 2025.

Ajay Singhal, who takes over the state’s top police post, is expected to serve a minimum two-year tenure starting immediately. His appointment follows the standard procedure where the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) convened an empanelment committee to shortlist eligible senior IPS officers for the role.

The selection of Singhal concludes a period of transition for the Haryana Police. Earlier this year, Shatrujeet Singh Kapur, the then DGP, was relieved of his duties amid administrative turbulence linked to a high-profile internal investigation following the suicide by senior IPS officer Y Puran Kumar and OP Singh was given additional charge.

Officials say Singhal’s leadership is widely welcomed within policing circles, with expectations that his experience and strategic vision will enhance ongoing efforts to strengthen law and order across the state.

State Home Department sources highlighted that the appointment aims to bring stability to the police leadership as Haryana prepares to face complex security challenges in 2026 and beyond. Singhal’s ascent denotes a renewed focus on effective policing and advancing public safety frameworks throughout the region.

Haryana Governor Prof Ashim Kumar Ghosh extended his warm greetings and best wishes to the people of the state on the eve of the New Year 2026. In his message, the Governor expressed hope that the New Year would usher in peace, prosperity, good health and happiness for every citizen.

Governor Prof Ghosh said that the New Year is a time for renewed resolve, positive thinking, and collective efforts towards building a progressive and inclusive society. He urged the people of Haryana to strengthen the values of unity, harmony and mutual respect while contributing actively to the development of the state and the nation.

Highlighting Haryana’s rich cultural heritage and its significant contribution to the country’s growth, the Governor expressed confidence that the people would continue to work with dedication, discipline and compassion in the year ahead and would promote the spirit of cooperation and harmony across the state.

Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) on Wednesday approved the Cost Data Book (CDB) for power consumers of the state.

The CDB 2025 fixes rates of various charges (including Processing Fee, Security Deposit, Supply Affording Charges, Material Costs, Smart Meter Costs etc) which the DISCOMs can recover for creation/extension of distribution network for supply of electricity to consumers.

The CDB was last revised on July 8, 2019.

The UPERC said the revision was necessitated to take into account changes in various material and labour costs for supply of electricity during this period.

The new CDB says in accordance with sub-rule 13 of Rule 4 of Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 and to avoid delay in release of new connections and to eliminate the requirement of site inspection and preparation of estimates for each and every case individually, Commission has fixed ‘Supply Affording Charges’ for all category of connections (except PTW) upto 150 kW in electrified areas.

Now estimates will not be required to be prepared for distances from distribution main upto 300m. Earlier estimates were required to be prepared for all connections beyond 40m distance.

Lifeline Consumers (For distance upto 100 meter) have been provided with an option to pay the Supply Affording Charges partly through upfront payment ofRs 500 and the balance through equated monthly installments of Rs.45 in electricity bill for 12 months from the date of connection.
Processing Fee and Security Deposit revised and no security deposit required for Lifeline Consumers.

Cost of AMI Compatible Smart Meters chargeable to the consumers determined for all categories of consumers. Cost of Single Phase Smart Meter has been fixed at Rs 2800 and Three Phase Smart Meter has been fixed at Rs 4100. Labour and Overhead charges have also been rationalised.

Cost associated with the development and operation of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) ecosystem is not to be recovered from the new consumers being already provided for in RDSS.

New applicants for single phase connection have been provided option to pay the meter cost of Rs 2800 in two parts Rs 1000 at the time of application and balance in 24 EMIs of Rs 84.

Given an option to pay in full to save interest costs.

The shared cost of transformation payable by the PTW consumers receiving connection from same 25kVA transformer retained at 33.3 per cent instead of 50 per cent as proposed.

Costs approved for PTW consumers willing to take independent 3-phase connections through 16 KVA transformer or single phase connection through 10KVA transformer.

Arrangement of armoured service cable to be made by the consumers, for connections upto 50kW (56 kVA), barring exceptional circumstances. Schedules for metering charge in case of ‘Underground Services’ also provided, similar to the Cost Data Book of 2019.

Provision for payment of ‘security, for amount exceeding Rupees 20,00,000, by way of Bank guarantee/e-Bank Guarantee, if consumer so desires. Schedule for 3-Phase connections provided for loads of 3kW & 4kW in line with the provision of the Tariff Order dated 22 November 2025 has been added in the Chapter-5A ‘Metering Charge and Supply Affording Charge’.

Order says residents of Undeveloped/ Unelectrified colonies to pay only metering charges as cost of infra has already been provided to be recovered through per sqft Development charges.

Similar dispensation given for multipoint connections in multistoried buildings.

The limit for load that can be released on 11kV Voltage has been increased to 4 MVA from 3 MVA in conformity with the provision under 13th Amendment to the Supply Code, 2005.

Although the Cost Data Book shall remain valid for 2 years from the date of its issue, however an escalation percentage equivalent to change in WPI of the previous 12 months has been allowed only on material rates (except meter) for the second year of its validity.

However ,Commission will be passing separate orders for settlement of excess charges recovered from new consumers towards smart meter costs based on these approved rates.