#ExpressIntro: PDP keeps BJP waiting, Kejriwal ink attack, ‘Dawood of Tamil Nadu’

Keeping the BJP waiting, the PDP has authorised its president Mehbooba Mufti to take a final call on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. On Sunday, the PDP held its first formal meeting since the death of its patron and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at the AIIMS in New Delhi on January 7. Party sources indicated they are ready to continue their alliance with the BJP but the final decision is still awaited. READ MORE

Odd-even event: Ink attack on Kejriwal sparks war of words, AAP hits out at BJP, Delhi Police

A 27-year-old woman threw ink on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while he was delivering a speech at Chhatrasal Stadium Sunday, thanking civil defence volunteers and officials for “making the odd-even traffic policy successful”. The woman, identified as Bhawna Arora, is a member of the Punjab division of Aam Aadmi Sena. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was not present at the function, said the incident should not be taken lightly.
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‘Dawood of Tamil Nadu’ says ready to return from Dubai for ‘fair trial’

Police officers describe him as the “Dawood Ibrahim of Tamil Nadu”, as the state’s most wanted man, or simply as “Don Sridhar”. They say he is based in Dubai and runs a real estate mafia near Chennai worth at least Rs 500 crore. And, with at least 43 cases registered against him, including seven of murder, they have been on his trail for years. Now, in an exclusive online video interview with The Indian Express, his first to a mainstream publication, Sridhar Dhanapalan says he is ready to return to India and face legal proceedings if he is assured of a “fair trial”. The 43-year-old, who was once an illicit arrack-seller in Kanchipuram, also fears that he would be killed by Tamil Nadu police in an “encounter” if he returns on his own after his “business visa expires in 2017”. READ MORE

Bihar minister under fire as photos with snakes go viral

Photos of Bihar Education and IT Minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary holding snakes have gone viral on the internet, prompting the Grand Alliance partners to voice disapproval. One photo shows Choudhary, also the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief, holding a snake at home. Another shows state Congress vice-president Subodh Kumar seeking his blessings. READ MORE

Pakistan Thunder versus Indian Tejas

India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas reached Sakhir Air Base last week to participate in the Bahrain International Air Show 2016, which will be held from January 21. This will be the first appearance of Tejas at a foreign air show, and is bound to be compared with Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter produced with Chinese help. READ MORE