Sharing PM photo, Digvijay Singh lauds Sangh

NEW DELHI: A CWC meeting to map out the party’s programmes to corner govt was overshadowed by inner turmoil after senior neta Digvijaya Singh praised the organisational strength of the RSS-BJP, citing how it enabled PM Modi‘s rise from the grassroots to the top.Singh’s remarks, made on social media timed with the meeting, appeared aimed at highlighting the need for organisational reforms within Congress. The post delighted BJP and raised eyebrows within the party, as Singh lauded the RSS-BJP system for allowing a ground-level worker to rise to CM and PM.At the CWC meeting, the former MP CM rued “over-centralisation” in Congress and pushed for decentralisation in the presence of top leadership, remarks that observers read with his X post in which he had said Rahul can do it but it is not easy to “convince” him.The post featured a 1990s photograph of Modi sitting on the ground while senior BJP netas, including L K Advani, sat on chairs at a meeting. Singh wrote that it was “very impressive” how an RSS volunteer and Jana Sangh-BJP worker rose to the highest offices, calling it the “strength of organisation”. In another take, Singh warned that there are “sleeper cells” in the party, which need to be identified.BJP seized on the comments to target Congress leadership. Spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said BJP’s system recognises a “gudri ke laal” like Modi, while Congress focuses on “Jawahar ke laal”. He said BJP’s working style allows people connected to the ground to rise through talent and organisational support.Targeting Rahul, Trivedi said Singh was not the first to question his understanding, recalling former US President Barack Obama’s description of Rahul in his memoir as having a “nervous, uninformed quality”. He said while Modi rose from the bottom and took BJP to the top, Congress’ “top-down” leadership was taking the party downward.As his comments triggered a storm, Singh clarified that he had merely praised the organisational strength of Sangh Parivar. “I was, am and will be a trenchant critic of the RSS and Modi,” he said, asking whether strengthening an organisation was a bad thing.In the CWC meeting, sources said Singh criticised govt’s bid to undo decentralisation under MGNREGA through changes in the law and pressed for decentralisation within Congress. He complained that district and state chiefs were appointed by AICC and questioned why decisions taken at Udaipur Chintan Shivir, including setting up an election management department, had not been implemented.

Stuart Broad (Screengrab-X)

England finally broke their long Australian hoodoo by winning the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, chasing down a target of 175 despite losing six wickets on the final day. The victory ended an 18-match winless run for England in Australia and marked their first Test success Down Under since 2011. While the result did not change the fate of the Ashes, with Australia leading the series 3-1, it carried enormous emotional weight for Ben Stokes and his side.Stuart Broad’s reaction became one of the most talked-about images of England’s breakthrough win at the MCG, perfectly capturing the emotional swing of this Ashes Test. The former England fast bowler, now part of the commentary team, wore a broad smile as the winning runs were struck, a sharp contrast to the dejection seen earlier in the series.

The moment stood out because fans had not forgotten Broad’s expression during the Perth Test. Sitting in the commentary box then, Broad was caught looking crestfallen as Joe Root was clean bowled, an image that quickly went viral. In Melbourne, the story flipped completely. As England crossed the line in a tense chase of 175, Broad could be seen beaming, celebrating a result that ended England’s long wait for success in Australia. The joy of the win was matched by strong criticism of the pitch, which produced a result inside two days. “When you go out there and you’re faced with those conditions, you’ve got to crack on and deal with it,” Stokes said after the match. “But being brutally honest, that’s not really what you want. You know, Boxing Day Test match, you don’t want a game finishing in less than two days. It’s not ideal.” Australian captain Steve Smith echoed those concerns, pointing to the heavy grass covering. “It was tricky. No one could really get in,” Smith said. “I think when you see 36 wickets across two days, that’s probably too much. It probably did a little bit more than they wanted it to.” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg was even more blunt, warning about the wider impact. “A simple phrase I’d use is short Tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt than that,” he said, adding that a better balance between bat and ball was needed. Former players were equally scathing. Michael Vaughan labelled the pitch “a joke”, while Alastair Cook called it “an unfair contest”. Yet amid all the debate, it was Broad’s smile that lingered. From visible despair in Perth to pure joy in Melbourne, his reaction mirrored England’s Ashes journey, one that finally delivered a rare and emotional win on Australian soil.

Congress leaders at the CWC meet

NEW DELHI: Calling “decimation of MGNREGA” a one-man decision of PM Modi like demonetisation, Congress brass of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi announced a nationwide campaign from January 5 to force the government to restore the job guarantee scheme.They argued the disbanding of the job scheme will devastate the rural economy, seriously hurt the SC/ST/OBC/women/minorities/poor, burden the states, and divert the money to billionaires like Adani.The announcement came after a marathon meeting of Congress Working Committee that discussed the Modi government’s contentious replacement of MGNREGA with VB-GRAMG.​​After discussing the issue over three hours, the CWC members read out a five-point pledge that Congress “vows to lead a MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan from January 5, 2026… to oppose by all democratic means possible the attempt to convert the rights of the workers to a government dole”.Following up on the elaborate brainstorming, Congress fielded its top duo of Kharge and Rahul to brief the press in a bid to send out a message of intent that would resonate beyond the party circles. Rahul expressed confidence that entire opposition will be united in the future course of action to seek restoration of MGNREGA.“Those dependent on MGNREGA are angry. That anger will cost this govt heavily. Remember, the government had to take back the three farm laws after the way the farmers and the opposition fought against them,” Kharge warned.Rahul said MGNREGA was “destroyed singlehandedly by the PM” without studying the matter. “I am told the PMO took this decision, even the minister and the Cabinet were not asked,” he alleged, calling the move as reflective of “one man show” of present times in which “Modi does whatever he wants to do”.“It will benefit Adani in full measure. That is the purpose of this – to take money from the poor and hand it to people like Adani,” he said.CWC also discussed SIR, and Kharge spoke about the nexus between the BJP and the EC. It was said that party units and BLAs should take care that the votes of marginalised communities are not deleted.Kharge mocked the Modi government’s claims to have made India the fourth largest economy, in which Adani, Ambani can take unlimited money as bank loans, but govt could not bear 30% of the MGNREGA budget that has now been shifted to the states under the new law. He said the extra financial burden will stall development work in states.

Mumbai: The filing of nomination papers for the BMC 2026 elections continued at a measured pace on Saturday, with 35 nominations filed across the city even as 1,294 nomination forms were distributed from 23 Returning Officer (RO) offices. With this, the total number of nominations filed so far stands at 44, while over 10,343 forms have been issued since the process began on December 23.Nomination forms can be filed between December 23 and 30, from 11 am to 5 pm daily. The highest number of nominations filed so far has been from the C and D wards, followed by M East, while several wards are yet to see a single candidate formally enter the fray. As the election process gathers momentum, the civic body has simultaneously tightened scrutiny on compliance, reiterating mandatory documentation requirements for candidates and warning of strict action against officials and contractors violating election-related norms.Toilet Usage Certificate Mandatory:The BMC has reminded candidates that submission of a toilet usage certificate or self-declaration along with nomination papers is mandatory, in line with directives of the State Election Commission (SEC), Maharashtra. Failure to submit the certificate during scrutiny empowers the Returning Officer to reject the nomination. The requirement, introduced under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan through amendments to the Maharashtra Act in 2016, mandates that candidates contesting local body elections must certify regular use of a toilet—either a private toilet at their residence or a community toilet. The BMC clarified that no photographs of toilets or individuals are required for certification. The rule applies irrespective of whether the candidate owns or rents a house.Election Staff Training: Attendance Mandatory:Ahead of polling, the BMC has also issued a stern warning to officials and staff appointed for election duty. Attendance at mandatory training sessions scheduled between December 29, 2025, and January 9, 2026, is compulsory, failing which criminal action will be initiated, officials said. Addressing a training review meeting at the civic headquarters, Joint Commissioner (Assessment and Collection) Vishwas Shankarwar said polling staff form the backbone of the election machinery, and any lapse in understanding procedures could compromise the credibility of the voting process. Training will cover EVM handling, mock poll procedures, polling material management, postal voting and post-poll protocols, and will be conducted at seven locations across Mumbai.Special Duty Officer (Elections) Vijay Balamvar said the sessions will include step-by-step technical demonstrations through computer-based presentations to eliminate confusion on polling day.

‘Drishyam 3’ makers recently announced that the film would release on October 2, 2026 owing to its significance from the first film. The film starring Ajay Devgan and Tabu conspicuously left out Akshaye Khanna‘s name from the credits, raising concerns on the actor’s presence in the film. Thereafter, reports started pouring in on how Khanna had quit the project over remuneration issues amid ‘Dhurandhar’s success and usage of a wig for the film. Now, in a recent interview, producer Kumar Mangat Pathak has revealed the concerns surrounding Khanna’s exit from the much-awaited thriller.

Wig demand and sudden exit

According to Bollywood Hungama, the producer said Akshaye Khanna also demanded a wig just days before shooting was about to start. Since ‘Drishyam 3’ is a sequel the makers felt this would create continuity problems. Reportedly, the makers were ready to talk but suddenly Akshaye said he did not want to do the film at all.

Pathak said, “We had signed an agreement with Akshaye Khanna. His fees also got locked after a lot of renegotiations from his side. He insisted that he would like to wear a wig. But (director) Abhishek Pathak convinced him that it wouldn’t be practical, as it would result in continuity issues since Drishyam 3 is a sequel. He understood his point and agreed to let go of that demand. However, the chamchas around him advised him that he would look smarter if he donned a wig. So, he again requested the same. Abhishek relented and was even ready to discuss this point with him. But then, he informed us that he doesn’t want to be a part of the film at all.”

‘Dhurandhar’ comment caused anger

Kumar Mangat Pathak said Akshaye believed Dhurandhar worked only because of him. The producer strongly disagreed. He said Dhurandhar was not a solo film and many factors made it successful. He added that if Akshaye does a solo film it may not even collect fifty crore in India. He said some actors do ensemble films and after success they start thinking they are superstars. “There was a time when Akshaye was nothing. That’s when I made Section 375 (2019) with him. Even then, so many people told us not to work with him because of his unprofessional behaviour. His energy on set is absolutely toxic. Section 375 got him recognition. Later, I signed him in Drishyam 2 (2022). He has got all the big offers only after Drishyam 2. Uske pehle woh 3-4 saal tak ghar pe baitha hua tha (Before that, he was sitting at home for 3–4 years),” revelaed Pathak.

Legal action and replacement

The producer also shared that Akshaye loved the ‘Drishyam 3’ script when he heard it at his Alibaug farmhouse. He even called it a five hundred crore film. After that the fee was fixed, an agreement was signed and advance was paid. Costumes were also designed. When Akshaye backed out it caused heavy losses to the makers. Because of this legal action has already been started against him.Pathak further revealed, “Also, it’s important to note that the Drishyam franchise is fronted by Ajay Devgn. Chhaava is a Vicky Kaushal film along with Akshaye. The same goes for Dhurandhar – it’s Ranveer Singh’s film. If Akshaye does a solo film, it won’t even collect Rs. 50 crores in India. Forget the lifetime, if he thinks he has become a superstar, then he should try mounting a superstar budget film with some studio and see who greenlights his film with that kind of budget. Some actors do ensemble cast films and after those movies become big hits, they start thinking that they are the star. That’s exactly what has happened with him. He thinks he’s a superstar now. Success has gone into his head. He told us, ‘Dhurandhar is working because of me’. He needs to understand that multiple factors worked in favour of Dhurandhar.”Jaideep Ahlawat to replace Akshaye Khanna in ‘Drishyam 3’Now latest reports have suggested that Akshaye Khanna has been replaced by Jaideep Ahlawat in ‘Drishyam 3’. The makers have moved on and are focusing on completing the film.