Express 5: Modi gets a new opponent in Raj; official shunted over toilet papers

In his first such attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Monday accused him of a “hidden agenda” to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, adding that he would “join hands with” the Shiv Sena “if such a situation arises”.

Raj Thackeray targets Narendra Modi: ‘has hidden agenda’, reports Shubhangi Khapre

2. SHUNTED:

A mid-level official of the Railways claims he has been “censured for poor performance” and shunted to an “irrelevant” training course in “unexplained haste” for his refusal to supply toilet paper rolls to the residence of Railway Board chairman, Arunendra Kumar.

Punished for not supplying toilet paper to Rly chief’s home: Official – report by Shyamlal Yadav and Avishek G Dastidar

3. MAHARASHTRA POLLS:

Of the  46 BJP MLAs in Maharashtra, the Marathwada region accounts for just two. That makes it obvious why any strategy for a change in government will have to be anchored in these 46 seats, apart from parts of western Maharashtra where the Shiv Sena and the BJP would both look to shell the NCP’s Maratha fortresses.

Where BJP has nothing to lose but a state to gain, special report by Kavitha Iyer

4. OPINION:

By re-discovering Mahatma Gandhi as only an icon of cleanliness, the Narendra Modi government has taken the first step towards dismantling his legacy.

Cleansing Gandhi of radicalism, by Suhas Palshikar

5. CRICKET:

You can accuse Ravi Shastri of many things. But you can never hold him guilty of being a fence-sitter. For Shastri doesn’t mince his words. Being subtle is not his style. It’s mostly easy to fathom which side of the coin he represents.

Shastri slashes, slashes hard: ‘I’m in-charge’ – report by Bharat Sundaresan