Don't wan't to be CM, Rajinikanth says ahead of 2021 TN polls

On this news bulletin, political strategist Amitabh Tiwari analyses the emerging trends in the Mumbai civic body elections. Tiwari highlights a significant gender divide, noting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have secured a substantial lead among female voters, potentially due to the 'Ladli Bahini Yojana' and other welfare schemes. He observes that 'women have emerged as kingmakers in most of the state elections in the past' and points out that the lead among women is double that of men. The discussion also features insights from Daniel Francis and Dhaval Kulkarni on voter apathy in Mumbai, the crumbling civic infrastructure, and the high stakes for the Thackeray family and Devendra Fadnavis. The panel explores why Mumbai's voter turnout remains low despite improved polling infrastructure, citing a lack of exciting agendas and the dominance of contractor-driven politics over middle-class concerns.

This report covers the conclusion of the Maharashtra civic poll voting process across the state. According to the latest updates from the election authorities, the voter turnout is estimated to be between '46 to 50 percent' across the 29 municipal corporations involved in the elections. The bulletin highlights the completion of the polling phase in these key urban local bodies. The figures provided reflect the preliminary participation rates as the voting window closes. The programme focuses on the scale of the democratic exercise, noting that the turnout data spans nearly thirty major municipal corporations in Maharashtra. The information remains centered on the official estimates provided at the end of the polling day, ensuring a factual summary of the electoral proceedings without additional background or speculation regarding the results or political implications.

In this Special Report, Rajdeep Sardesai, Consulting Editor at India Today, analyses the Axis My India exit poll results for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections held on 15th January 2026. Sardesai notes that the 'BJP has a clear edge as per the projected vote share in terms of gender, 40% among males, but it goes up to 44% among women.' The discussion highlights a significant lead for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance among younger voters aged 18-25, while the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) maintains a slight lead among voters over 60. Sardesai and co-anchor Maria Shakil explore the impact of the 'Ladki Behin' scheme and the consolidation of the BJP vote against a fractured Shiv Sena. The report also addresses the persistent issue of voter apathy in Mumbai, with Sardesai pointing to a 'disconnect' between citizens and corporators amidst concerns over urban decay and infrastructure despite major projects like the coastal road and metro.

On a Special Report, anchor Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor covers multiple national headlines, leading with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections held after an eight-year gap. The broadcast examines the low 57% voter turnout and a significant controversy involving allegations of marker pen use instead of permanent ink. The program then turns to West Bengal, where the Supreme Court has stayed police FIRs against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), questioning if state agencies can shield against central probes. Another major topic is the Health Ministry's decision to slash NEET PG qualifying cut-offs, with some categories reduced to zero percentile, sparking a debate on medical education standards and methods to fill 18,000 vacant seats. Additionally, the report highlights an 'India Today Impact' where the Punjab government issued show-cause notices to hospitals following an exposé on irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat Yojana scheme.