DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024, NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 22 PAGES SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 20 IN ANOTHER indication of India and China moving swiftly to repair ties following troop disengagement at two friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun met in Laos capital Vientiane Wednesday where Singh said “we need to focus on cooperation rather than conflict”. Meeting Dong on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, Singh “emphasised and looked forward to greater trust and confidence Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with China’s Dong Jun in Vientiane, Laos. PTI building between the two sides through de-escalation” — an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 troops have been deployed on each side of the LAC in eastern Ladakh. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Maharashtra sees highest turnout in 30 yrs: victory sign, say both alliances ALOK DESHPANDE & VIKAS PATHAK BUSINESS AS USUAL MUMBAI, NEW DELHI, NOV 20 VOTERS CAME out in huge numbers in Maharashtra’s battle ofthe alliances Wednesday where the turnout, according to data available at 11.45 pm, crossed 65.1 per cent — the first time since 1995 when the state witnessed a turnout of 71.69 per cent. The turnout was way above the 61.39 per cent recorded in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha elections this year, and the 61.4 per cent in the 2019 Assembly elections. In Jharkhand, where the JMM-led alliance is battling the BJP-led NDA bloc, the turnout was 68.45 per cent. The rise in voter turnout in Maharashtra is being attributed to the fierce campaign undertaken by the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and could become a key factor in a close contest. During the Lok Sabha elections, the three BY UNNY At a poll booth in Ghatkopar West Wednesday. The 10 seats in Mumbai city saw 52% turnout while Mumbai suburban’s 26 seats recorded 56%. Sankhadeep Banerjee WHAT THE POLLSTERS PREDICT Maharashtra (288) Pollster Mahayuti JVC 150-167 MVA Others 107-125 13-14 Axis MyIndia - - Matrize 150-170 110-130 Meeting was CM exercise to build own image: Four NDA MLAs CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2024 VOTER TURNOUT Maharashtra BJP+ JMM-INC Others 8-10 30-40 1 17-27 - 40-44 49-59 0-2 42-47 25-30 1-4 2019 2024 61.4% 65.1% Jharkhand (Phase 2) 2019 2024 66.9% 68.4% Turnout until 11.45 pm; Source: EC Gahlot counters AAP: Did I-Day flag hoisting after Madam Kejriwal’s nod MAULSHREE SETH CM should have called a meeting with the Unified Command, including the DGP, Security Advisor, the CRPF and Assam Rifles IGs, and the Chief Secretary. What is a meeting of MLAs supposed to achieve in this?” The resolution passed at the meeting had “nothing to do with DECISION Jharkhand (81) CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 FOUR OF the legislators who skipped Monday’s meeting of NDA MLAs called in Imphal by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh have questioned the intent behind it, dismissing it as an “image-building exercise” at a time that the state government is battling a crisis of confidence. Pointing out that the stated agenda ofthe meeting was “to review the developing law and order situation in the state”, a senior MLA of the ruling BJP said: “The Delhi moves to 50% work from home, asks pvt sector to follow GRAP revised, makes it mandatory for schools to shut offline classes Biren intent not good, that’s why crisis: MLAs who skipped NDA meet 5 cops suspended over SUKRITA BARUAH complaints of stopping voters in western UP GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 20 AQI REMAINS SEVERE GAYATHRI MANI LUCKNOW, NOVEMBER 20 DAYS AFTER leaving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joining the BJP, Delhi’s former Home and Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said on Wednesday that he agreed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day — in NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 20 WITH THE Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining “severe” on Wednesday, the Delhi government announced work from home for 50 per cent of its staff, and also asked the private sector to take similar measures. The Delhi government announced that all its departments and MCD offices will work at 50 per cent capacity while the remaining staff will work from home until curbs under the fourth stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are lifted. Addressing a press conference after a meeting with industry stakeholders, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said: “Private offices in Delhi must switch to 50 per cent oftheir employees working from home.” The Delhi government also advised private E Will also reduce ● traffic VEHICULAR EMISSION, as per several studies, is among the biggest contributors to Delhi’s toxic air. The aim behind the 50 per cent work from home move is to control vehicular emission by reducing vehicular movement and traffic congestion. companies to arrange shuttle bus services and follow staggered office timings. On Tuesday, the Gurgaon administration had issued an advisory urging private firms to follow 50 per cent work-from-home NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 20 FIVE UTTAR Pradesh policemen were placed under suspension Wednesday by the Election Commission following complaints that they were preventing voters from casting votes in Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar, P3 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE EXPLAINED Looking forward to de-escalation, focus on cooperation: Rajnath to China counterpart `7.00 (`8 BIHAR & RAIPUR, `12 SRINAGAR) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 A video grab of a policeman pointing a revolver during the bypoll in Meerapur, UP CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE EXPRESS INTERVIEW KAILASH GAHLOT FORMER AAP MINISTER, NOW WITH BJP CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 EXPRESS NETWORK DELHI HIGH COURT RELIEF FOR CHIDAMBARAM IN AIRCEL-MAXIS CASE INDIA, AUSTRALIA SEAL CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP, PUSH TRADE PACT PAGE 8