DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE `6.00 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 ASSEMBLY POLLS IN JHARKHAND, MAHARASHTRA Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Vientiane, Laos. PTI Looking forward to de-escalation, focus on cooperation: Rajnath to China Highest Maharashtra turnout in 30 years: Victory sign, say both groups 5 cops suspended over complaints of stopping voters in western UP ALOK DESHPANDE & VIKAS PATHAK 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 MAULSHREE SETH LUCKNOW, NOVEMBER 20 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 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 “emphasisedandlookedforward to greater trust and confidence building between the two sides through de-escalation” — an estimated50,000to60,000troops havebeendeployedoneachside of the LAC in eastern Ladakh. The Defence Ministers of the two countries met two days after External Affairs Minister S JaishankarandhisChinesecounterpartWangYimetonthesidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil where they were accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 BUSINESS AS USUAL 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% until 11.30 pm. Sankhadeep Banerjee WHAT THE POLLSTERS PREDICT Maharashtra (288) Pollster Mahayuti JVC 150-167 MVA Jharkhand (81) Others 107-125 13-14 Axis MyIndia - - Matrize 150-170 110-130 BJP+ JMM-INC Others 30-40 1 17-27 8-10 40-44 49-59 0-2 42-47 25-30 1-4 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, Sisamau in Kanpur and Moradabad during the bypolls for nine Assembly seats in the state. The Opposition SP accused the ruling BJP of misusing government machinery to prevent SPsupporters,especially“burqacladwomen”,fromcastingvotes. TheBJPhitback,sayingtheburqa wasbeingusedfor“fakevoting”. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav Biren intent not good, that’s why crisis: MLAs 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 agendaofthemeetingwas“toreview the developing law and ordersituationinthestate”,asenior MLA of the ruling BJP said: “The CMshouldhavecalledameeting with the Unified Command, includingtheDGP,SecurityAdvisor, 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 was CM exercise to build own image: Four NDA MLAs meetinghad“nothingtodowith law and order”, the senior BJP MLA added. “The only focus needs to be on bringing back peace,andthishadnothingtodo A video grab of a policeman pointing a revolver during the bypoll in Meerapur, UP posted a video of a police officer pointing a revolver, allegedly at voters in the Meerapur Assembly constituency of Muzaffarnagar. He claimed it CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ANOTHER REPORT PAGE 4 THE WORLD with that.” The resolution sought “mass operationsagainstKukimilitants responsible for” the November 11 abduction and killing of six Meitei women and children from Jiribam. It also urged the Centreto“reviewtheimposition of AFSPA” in six police stations areas of the valley, adding that if the demands were “not implemented within the specified CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 AQI remains severe, Delhi moves to 50% work from home, asks pvt firms to follow GRAP revised, makes it mandatory for schools to shut offline classes 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 percentoftheiremployeeswork- E EXPLAINED THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024, LUCKNOW, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES 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. ing from home.” The Delhi government also advised private companiestoarrangeshuttlebus servicesandfollowstaggeredoffice timings. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Gahlot counters AAP: Did I-Day flag hoisting after Madam Kejriwal’s nod GAYATHRI MANI NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 20 PUTIN’S SPY CHIEF WARNS WEST AGAINST DIRECT CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA PAGE 12 DAYS AFTER leaving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joining theBJP,Delhi’sformerHomeand Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said on Wednesday that he agreed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day — in CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE EXPRESS INTERVIEW KAILASH GAHLOT FORMER AAP MINISTER, NOW WITH BJP Unsure where to start your investment journey? Building wealth with Mutual Funds is Fu 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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