Daily Briefing: Election day across Maharashtra, phase 2 polls in Jharkhand; CM Soren interview; and more

With that, let’s move on to today’s edition:

🚨Big Story

It’s polling day across Maharashtra and in Jharkhand’s remaining Assembly seats. Our live blog will track voter turnout, and have real-time updates on what happens in and around polling stations through the day.

The contest in Maharashtra will see the ruling Mahayuti — comprising the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the NCP — engage in a rematch of the Lok Sabha polls. In June this year, Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) emerged ahead of Mahayuti.

Poll eve action: The state also witnessed some high voltage drama on the eve of its single-phase Assembly elections. Three FIRs were filed against BJP’s national general secretary Vinod Tawde, party candidate from Nalasopara Rajan Naik and over 200 others by Palghar police. The action came after Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi (BVA) workers alleged that Tawde was distributing cash among voters.He was booked after recovery of cash from the hotel in Virar near Mumbai, but Tawde refuted the allegations and said he was at the hotel for a meeting of BJP workers.

Also, check out these 10 high-profile constituencies across Maharashtra (excluding those in Mumbai) that are set to witness fierce battles today.

“Today, if Maharashtra is an indicator of the shape of things to come, India’s parliamentary democracy may well get confined to some 500-odd families. And it could happen sooner than we think.”

The democracy question: Columnist Neerja Chowdhury takes us through the state to point out that virtually every district is dominated by one or even two families – from Pawars to the Thackerays – that have come to acquire huge political influence, often with more clout than the parties. Highlighting how “parivarwaad” thrives here, she raises the question: “Is blood thicker than party and ideology?”

Meanwhile in Jharkhand, the remaining 38 of 81 seats vote in the second phase of the elections today. Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren, in an interview to The Indian Express, discusses the polls, his governance track record, how the BJP is working on “top gear” to crush the JMM, and the time he spent in prison in a money laundering case which made him think that “jail ki duniya alag hai”.

⚡Only in Express

At Express Adda: Foreign policy analyst, author and TV host Fareed Zakaria joined us in Mumbai to discuss how US President-elect Donald Trump’s second term could play out for India, China and the world. Calling India “the most protectionist large economy in the world”, he said there’s a golden opportunity for the country in Trump’s pledge to levy high tariffs on all imports from China in his coming term.

🎧Deep dive: The latest episode of our 3 Things podcast is also about all things Trump 2.0, and talks specifically about the leaders whose appointment will impact the US-India relations.

📰 From the Front Page

Next steps: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wangi Yi Tuesday discussed the “next steps in India-China relations,” a month after the two countries agreed to disengage at two friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). These steps would include “resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, data sharing on trans-border rivers, direct flights between India and China and media exchanges”. 

Back to business: Meanwhile, facing prospects of an escalating trade war with the United States after Donald Trump takes charge as the US President, business and political leaders in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, are hoping for a reset in China’s economic ties with India. And the disengagement along the borders has provided the opportunity to “look into the future”, Chinese officials and top business executives told The Indian Express. For instance, the NDA government’s focus on creating domestic manufacturing capabilities can help Beijing explore investment opportunities in India.

Putin’s visit to India: In a first since the Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India and the dates for his trip are being finalised, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has informed. His visit comes as part of a laid-down structure between the two countries for reciprocal annual visits by their leaders. Last week, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov also visited India to hold key discussions on bilateral and global issues with the Indian leadership.

📌Must Read

Retest: Last year, Karnataka announced it would hold Board examinations three times in an academic year for Classes 10 and 12, giving all students, whether they passed or failed, up to two chances to improve their performance. Data from the unique experiment for the 2023-2024 session now shows that science subjects have the highest share of repeat takers. 

‘Extra vigilant’: Authorities in Assam’s Cachar are working overtime to ensure the communal fire from the neighbouring district of Manipur’s Jiribam, which has been on the boil since November 7, with the violence claiming 21 lives so far, does not spread there. The representatives of Meitei and Hmar groups held their first peace meeting in Lakhipur with local administration and police officers, where they discussed measures, including maintaining vigilance, instructions to avoid rumour mongering, shutting down markets before dark, and reporting suspicious activities to officials.

“The air we breathe is a choice we make as a society at the expense of our health and that of young children. The air quality issue this time has thrown up more questions than answers.”

In our Opinion section today, Dr Gufran Beig delves into the emerging confusion in the readings of Delhi’s air quality index (AQI), and the factors contributing to severe pollution levels.

⏳ And Finally…

“In the past, the mental prep was an accessory in aiding his technique, now it has to also overcome a few batting issues. Dhoni’s advice, then, seems all the more sound than ever. Can Virat Kohli, then, go with the flow?”

A vicious cycle: While India batsman Virat Kohli practises the art of doing everything possible mentally before a game, batting, for him, is 70 per cent technical. Earlier, he was more confident about his game and has now been forced these days to fuss about his technique more. Here are some technical issues that grips Kohli on the field.

That’s all for today.

Until tomorrow

Vibha B Madhava and Ariba

Business As Usual by E P Unny (Nov 20)