Kangana Ranaut, BJP candidate, says 'Mandi my janmabhoomi' in Holi message

On this Special Report, the focus is on Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh’s announcement regarding potential restrictions on social media access for minors. Speaking at Davos, Nara Lokesh stated that the 'Andhra Pradesh government is mulling a ban on access to media for children below 16 years in the state.' The Minister highlighted that the government is currently studying Australia's legislative framework, which prohibits children under 16 from accessing social platforms. The move aims to protect youngsters from harmful content they may not fully comprehend and to safeguard their mental health and safety. TDP spokesperson Deepak Reddy supported the initiative, noting that children are often not emotionally mature enough for the digital environment. The proposed law seeks to prevent cyberbullying and online targeting, ensuring a secure digital space for minors. The state government is examining global best practices to develop a robust legal framework for the well-being of children in Andhra Pradesh.

On this Special Report, anchor Anisha discusses the significant political shift in Chandigarh as the alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress collapses ahead of the Mayoral Election. Anisha notes, 'The alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress for the Chandigarh Mayoral Election has collapsed, with both parties deciding to go solo'. This development provides a major boost to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the polls scheduled for 29th January. AAP Punjab-in-charge Jarnail Singh confirmed the party will contest independently, rejecting previous reports of a joint strategy. Reporter Aman Bharadwaj highlights that both parties are filing separate nominations for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor. With 19 votes required to win in the 35-member Municipal Corporation, the split between AAP’s 11 councillors and Congress’s 6 councillors significantly alters the arithmetic against the BJP’s 18 votes and the MP's vote. The programme examines the implications for Punjab's larger political landscape.

On this report, Mustafa Shaikh provides details on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayoral race following the state government's reservation lottery. Mustafa Shaikh notes, 'The lottery goes to women from the open category,' confirming that Mumbai will have a female mayor. The Urban Development Department conducted the lottery for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, leading to a walkout by the Uddhav Sena. The opposition party has slammed the result, demanding an OBC mayor instead of one from the open category. Mustafa Shaikh explains that authorities followed an alphabetical order for the reservation process, which excluded the BMC from the OBC bracket this time. While the category is now fixed, the specific individual who will lead the 'maximum city' remains a suspense. The report highlights the political friction between the Mahayuti and the Uddhav Sena following the recent elections and the subsequent administrative procedures for local body leadership.

Anchor Nagarjun Dwarakanath reports on the Karnataka Assembly session where Governor Thavarachand Gehlot faced heckling from Congress legislators. The Governor reportedly substituted the state cabinet's prepared speech with his own remarks. Congress members allege the Governor violated constitutional provisions and exited before the National Anthem concluded. The BJP claims the Governor was targeted due to his Dalit background. In Tamil Nadu, Union Minister Piyush Goyal demanded the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin following court observations regarding hate speech. The AIADMK staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly, citing rising chicken prices and the suppression of opposition voices. The report details the expansion of the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu to include the PMK and AMMK under Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Additionally, the bulletin covers the environmental crisis in Tirupur caused by illegal waste dumping in quarries and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale’s invitation to the CPM in Kerala to join the NDA for state funding.