DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA 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 “emphasisedandlookedforward 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 estimated50,000to60,000troops havebeendeployedoneachside of the LAC in eastern Ladakh. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Biren intent not good, that’s why crisis: MLAs who skipped NDA meet 21/11/2024 82 110 135 80 INSIDE 5 COPS SUSPENDED OVER ‘STOPPING VOTERS’ IN UP PAGE 7 SUKRITA BARUAH GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 20 FOUR OF the legislators who skipped Monday’s meeting of NDA MLAs called in Imphal by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singhhavequestionedtheintent behindit,dismissingitasan“image-building exercise” at a time thatthestategovernmentisbattling a crisis of confidence. Pointing out that the stated agenda of the meeting was “to `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 Maharashtra sees highest turnout in 30 yrs: victory sign, say both alliances ALOK DESHPANDE & VIKAS PATHAK BUSINESS AS USUAL MUMBAI, NEW DELHI, NOV 20 VOTERSCAMEoutinhugenumbersinMaharashtra’sbattleofthe alliances Wednesday where the turnout, according to data availableat11.45pm,crossed65.1per 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 Sabhaelectionsthisyear,andthe 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 undertakenbytherulingMahayutiand Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and could become a key factor in a close contest. During theLokSabhaelections,thethree CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 DECISION 2024 ● In Mumbai, highest turnout recorded in Bhandup West, lowest in Colaba P3 ● Fights, threats and clashes in Maharashtra on poll day P4 ● Maharashtra recorded highest polling of 71.6% in 1995, lowest in 1980 P5 ● Ramps, creches, waiting areas improve voter experience P6 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 BY UNNY AQI REMAINS SEVERE Delhimovesto 50%workfrom home,askspvt sectortofollow GRAP revised, makes it mandatory for schools to shut offline classes 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% until 11.30 pm. Sankhadeep Banerjee DECISION 2024 VOTER TURNOUT WHAT THE POLLSTERS PREDICT Maharashtra (288) Pollster Mahayuti JVC 150-167 MVA Others 107-125 13-14 Axis MyIndia - - Matrize 150-170 110-130 Maharashtra Jharkhand (81) BJP+ 2019 JMM-INC Others 61.4% 2024 65.1% 8-10 30-40 1 Jharkhand(Phase2) 17-27 - 40-44 49-59 0-2 42-47 25-30 1-4 66.9% 2019 2024 68.4% Turnout until 11.45 pm; Source: EC As Bitcoin fraud rocks Maharashtra polls, Sule & Patole complain to EC SUSHANT KULKARNI & ALOK DESHPANDE PUNE, MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 20 EVEN AS the Maharashtra Assembly elections came to a close Wednesday, a new war of words has begun over alleged misappropriation of bitcoins froma2018cryptocurrencyfraud case to fund poll campaigns. The charges against NCP leader Supriya Sule and MaharashtraCongresschiefNana PatolewerelevelledbyformerIPS officer Ravindranath Patil on Tuesday,andamplifiedbyBJPMP Sudhanshu Trivedi at a late night press conference in Delhi on the eve of polling. Both Sule and Patole have denied the allegations, and filed complaintswiththeEC.Patilsaid he has written to the EC and sought a probe in the matter. The allegations pertain to an investigationcarriedoutbythePunepo- licedepartment’scybercrimecell intoamulti-crorecryptocurrency ponzi scheme in 2018. The accused were alleged to have defrauded people across the country by promising high returns on cryptocurrency investments. A 2004-batch IPS officer, Patil leftserviceonmedicalgroundsin 2010, and started working for globalaccountingmajorKPMGas a cybersecurity expert. In 2018, whenPunepoliceinvestigatedthe CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE 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 homeuntilcurbsunderthefourth stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are lifted. Addressingapressconference after a meeting with industry stakeholders,DelhiEnvironment Minister Gopal Rai said: “Private officesinDelhimustswitchto50 percentoftheiremployeesworking from home.” The Delhi government also advised private E EXPLAINED SHUBHAJIT ROY REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES Looking forward to de-escalation, focus on cooperation: Rajnath to China counterpart ● 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. companiestoarrangeshuttlebus servicesandfollowstaggeredoffice timings. On Tuesday, the Gurgaon administration had issued an advisory urging private firms to follow50percentwork-from-home 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 7 Unsure where to start your investment journey? Building wealth with Mutual Funds is SIPlified. Advantages of SIP Freedom from timing the market ! Flexibility to choose investment amount Contact your MFD/RIA to know more. An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative SIP - Systematic Investment Plan. Visit https://www.hdfcfund.com/information/key-know-how to know more about the process to complete a one-time Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement to invest in Mutual Funds. 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