PUNE: Even as BJP emerged as the single largest party in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections across the state, Congress managed to halt BJP’s juggernaut in several municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Vidarbha. In Maharashtra’s sugar bowl of western Maharashtra, BJP battled its own Mahayuti alliance partners as Congress and NCP (SP) struggled to retain hold.

BJP made inroads in many places in Mumbai and Konkan regions that had traditionally been with Shiv Sena, Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) and the NCP. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde expanded Shiv Sena’s hold beyond Mumbai Metropolitan Region and emerged as the number two party in these polls.

Fadnavis told reporters on Sunday, “We have won 117 presidents’ posts, and more than 75% posts are with our Mahayuti partners. This is a repeat of the assembly election. Compared to 2017, our elected representatives’ numbers have doubled. At that time, we had 1,602 councillors and this time, we have 3,125 councillors. This is the biggest win in local elections in the last 25 years for any party.” With the landslide win, he has underscored that his party’s presence is no longer limited to urban centres alone and that it has managed to penetrate rural Maharashtra too.Shinde said, “I am proud of my party workers…The results also show that our party has reached every household even at the micro level and we will continue our performance even in the municipal corporation polls.”North Maharashtra once again backed BJP with maximum seats in Jalgaon district, where minister Girish Mahajan has the last word. BJP’s hope of riding on the clout of senior politicians like former CM Ashok Chavan and the Munde cousins didn’t materialise in Marathwada.In Pune district, deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led NCP retained its dominance by securing the president’s posts in 10 of the 17 local bodies, followed by Shinde-led Shiv Sena with four and the BJP with three.The Mahayuti’s victory, seen as a precursor to the municipal corporation elections slated for Jan 15, is especially important for two reasons. The polls were held against the backdrop of devastating floods in Maharashtra which ruined kharif crops in most districts and govt was blamed for doing very little to help the farmers. Secondly, the opposition had time and again alleged that several public works were languishing due to paucity of funds which they said was a fallout of taxpayers’ money being squandered on populist schemes including the Laadki Bahin Yojna.Also, it was the first time polls to all councils and panchayats in Maharashtra were held simultaneously after the Shiv Sena and NCP spilt.Congress state chief Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the state election commission of mismanagement, but state poll commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said the counting process was carried out smoothly across all the 288 councils.

Radhika Apte had stormed into the evolving digital landscape with a spate of projects like ‘Lust Stories’, ‘Sacred Games’, ‘Ghoul.’ Thereafter, she has maintained the tempo with recent releases like ‘Sister Midnight’ and the Tisca Chopra directorial debut, ‘Saali Mohabbat’ with Divyenndu Sharma. A recent interaction between the actress and Sharma while promoing their film has been doing the rounds on social media wherein she had opened up about the traumatic sexism faced in South Indian film industry during the late 2000s.

Radhika Apte reveals traumatic experience on sets

In a conversation with Divyenndu Sharma for ‘Creator x Creator’ by The Indian Express, Radhika Apte opened up about the sexism she faced while working in South Indian films at the start of her career. She admitted that she took these roles primarily because she “really needed money,” but the emotional cost was high.Apte recounted a specific incident in a small town where she was the only woman on a set filled with men. She said, “They wanted to add more padding on my bums and breasts. They were like, ‘Amma, more padding!’ I said, ‘How much more padding? How much rounder would you make somebody?’”Apte recalled retaliating, “I was like, I literally had to get that assistant saying that, is your mother, sister, how much padding? Like, how much more? How much will you put, how much rounder will you make somebody? So I said that, tell director, no padding.Apte also realized that she was barred from bringing her own team, leaving her without a manager or agent to navigate a hostile work environment. She said, “And then I looked around. I was the only woman, I had no manager, I had no agent. My team was all men because they had given me, they were like, no, you are not allowed to get your own team. And that was the first time I realised, my goodness, there’s literally, and I’m not kidding.

Radhika Apte on the aftermath

The actress revealed that the experience left her feeling vulnerable and isolated, stating, “I never, ever want to be put in that situation again because I’ll cry. It was actually traumatic.”

Radhika Apte on aligning with industry folks

Apte also went on to emphasize how aligning with people in the industry is difficult when their political and ethical stances remain ambiguous. She said, “There are so many women in such powerful positions who can make the change, but they won’t. And I find that deeply disturbing,”

About ‘Saali Mohabbat’

A mystery thriller, ‘Saali Mohabbat’ features Radhika Apte as Smita, a small town housewife whose life takes a twist when she gets implicated in a web of lies, deceit and a double murder. Divyenndu Sharma lends his presence as Ratan Pandit. The film also stars Anurag Kashyap, Sharat Saxena and Kusha Kapila. It is available for viewing on Zee5 and released on December 12.

Domestic stock market fund raising remains strong in FY26; 83 companies raise Rs 1.3 lakh crore till Nov: NSE report

Fund mobilisation in the domestic stock market remained strong in the current financial year, with 83 companies raising Rs 1.3 lakh crore as of November in FY26, according to a report released by the National Stock Exchange (NSE).The report highlighted that fund raising momentum stayed robust, supported by several marquee initial public offerings (IPOs) that made their debut during the period.NSE stated, “On the mainboard, 83 companies raised Rs 1.3 lakh crore, with 41 per cent from fresh equity and 59 per cent via OFS”.In fresh equity, a company creates and sells new shares to the public. All of the money raised from these new shares goes directly to the company itself, which then uses the funds to expand the business, finance new projects, or pay off debts. In contrast, an Offer for Sale (OFS) involves existing owners, such as the company’s founders or early investors, selling their already-held shares to new investors.The report further noted that these newly listed companies now command a combined market capitalisation of over Rs 10 lakh crore, indicating the scale and depth of recent listings in the domestic market. This growth also reflects the increasing ability of Indian capital markets to attract large issuances and support companies across sectors.Investor participation patterns also showed notable trends. Retail participation strengthened to 25 per cent, highlighting growing interest from individual investors in primary market offerings. At the same time, the share of qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) moderated, according to the report.The NSE report also pointed to continued momentum in the SME segment through the Emerge platform. During the period under review, 80 companies were listed on the Emerge platform, raising a total of Rs 3,911 crore. Notably, 95 per cent of this amount was raised through fresh equity, underscoring the platform’s role in providing growth capital to small and medium enterprises.In addition, the report said that recent regulatory measures have further strengthened India’s listing ecosystem. These include the reduction in the minimum public offering requirement, extension of timelines for achieving minimum public shareholding for large entities, streamlining of migration criteria for SME companies moving from the Emerge platform to the mainboard, and enhanced disclosure norms.Overall, the report concluded that robust fundraising activity, strong participation from retail investors, and supportive regulatory measures continue to reinforce the role of India’s capital markets in driving long-term growth and expansion.

New Zealand completed a commanding victory over West Indies at the Bay Oval, delivering a ruthless all-round performance to wrap up the third Test in emphatic fashion. After piling on massive runs across both innings, the hosts unleashed their bowlers on a wearing fifth-day surface to dismiss the visitors cheaply and underline their dominance from start to finish.

Batting masterclass from Devon Conway and Tom Latham lay the foundation

New Zealand set the tone early in the contest with a monumental first-innings total of 575 for 8 declared. The innings was built on patience, control, and classical Test match batting, with Devon Conway standing tall. The left-hander produced a magnificent double century, dictating terms for long periods and draining the West Indies bowlers of confidence.

He found excellent support from captain Tom Latham, who crafted a composed century of his own. Together, they ensured New Zealand remained firmly in control, forcing the visitors into long, exhausting spells in the field. The rest of the batting unit chipped in with valuable contributions, allowing the Kiwis to declare from a position of absolute strength.

Kavem Hodge’s hundred keeps West Indeis in fight

In reply, West Indies showed commendable fight, led by a superb century from Kavem Hodge. Batting with assurance and intent, he countered New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack and helped his side reach a respectable 420. However, despite that resistance, the visitors were unable to prevent conceding a sizeable first-innings deficit of 155 runs.

New Zealand’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout, ensuring the Windies never truly threatened to match the hosts’ dominance. The lead proved crucial as the match progressed towards its decisive stages.

Conway, Latham sizzle again to give Windies a massive target

With a strong advantage in hand, New Zealand batted with freedom in their second innings, racing to 306 for 2 before declaring. Latham and Conway once again led the charge, this time shifting gears to score brisk centuries that completely took the game away from the West Indies.

Their positive approach stretched the lead rapidly and left the visitors facing an imposing target of 462 runs on a surface beginning to show signs of wear and unpredictability.

Also READ: NZ vs WI: Devon Conway and Tom Latham create Test history with unprecedented twin centuries

Jacob Duffy wreaks havoc as final-day collapse seals the contest

West Indies began the final day with cautious optimism, reaching 87 without loss and briefly entertaining hopes of survival. However, the dismissal of Brandon King (67) proved to be the turning point. A dramatic collapse followed as the visitors slid from 87/0 to 98/5, undoing all the early work in a matter of overs.

Roston Chase soon fell to a sharp delivery from Jacob Duffy, while Shai Hope fought a stubborn rearguard after lunch. His marathon stay ended when he misjudged one from Ajaz Patel and was trapped in front. Tevin Imlach showed grit from one end, but the resistance was short-lived as New Zealand sliced through the tail.

Duffy delivered the final blow by knocking over Jayden Seales to complete a five-wicket haul and bring the match to a decisive close, with West Indies bowled out for just 138, losing the contest by 323 runs. With the win, the hosts clinched the series 2-0.

Here’s how fans reacted:

New Zealand’s bowlers finish the job in Mount Maunganui to claim 12 #WTC27 points and a 2-0 series win 👏#NZvWI 📲 https://t.co/RsAVYUUerk pic.twitter.com/pA62cthcMW

— ICC (@ICC) December 22, 2025

New Zealand dominates again
Win by 323 runs vs West Indies and seal the 3-match series 2-0.
Clinical performance in all departments. 🇳🇿🏏#NZvWI #Ashes2025

— Rustom Imran (@Rustomimran2) December 22, 2025

New Zealand win the Test series 2-0 🏆#cricket #NZvsWI #NewZealand #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/VHG6iBUeT7

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 22, 2025

NEW ZEALAND WON BY 323 RUNS!
Another 5-fer for Duffman!

NZ won the series 2-0 #NZvsWI pic.twitter.com/t2GRyUorhh

— #BackTheBLACKCAPS 🇳🇿 (@KW_Fans436) December 22, 2025

New Zealand’s bowlers finish the job in Mount Maunganui to claim 12 #WTC27 points and a 2-0 series win 👏#NZvWI #Cricket26 pic.twitter.com/EHxJvq7ndB

— Jayant paraste01 (@JayantParaste01) December 22, 2025

🚨 NEW ZEALAND WIN THE TEST SERIES AGAINST WEST INDIES 🚨

– New Zealand defeat West Indies in the 3rd Test to clinch the series 2–0. 🔥🫡 pic.twitter.com/ZHEthS3LOF

— MD Raju 🇮🇳 (@MDRaju_Live) December 22, 2025

New Zealand win the 3rd Test by 323 runs and take the series 2-0.

🇳🇿 NZ 575/8d & 306/2d

🌴 WI 420 & 138, King 67; Duffy 5-42

Scorecard: https://t.co/0mQxtGdGjt pic.twitter.com/qtAK75mVdF

— WIPA (@wiplayers) December 22, 2025

New Zealand win the third Test to take the series 2-0 🏆
It has been 30 years since West Indies last won a Test in New Zealand!#WindiesCricket | #MeninMaroon | #NZvWI | #Gameyaaad pic.twitter.com/I1VirXfKXW

— gameyaaad (@gameyaaad) December 22, 2025

New Zealand’s bowlers finish the job in Mount Maunganui to claim 12 #WTC27 points and a 2-0 series win 👏#NZvWI 📲 https://t.co/7j6FbpJwF0… pic.twitter.com/edqsMIxnle

— R. BARWAL (@r_barwal_) December 22, 2025

🚨 DOMINANT NEW ZEALAND 🚨
🇳🇿 NZ thrashed WI in the Test series:⁰✔️ 2nd Test — won by 9 wickets⁰✔️ 3rd Test — won by 323 runs
A clean 2–0 series win for the Black Caps! 💪🔥#NZvWI #NewZealandCricket #BlackCaps #TestCricket #SeriesWin #CricketTwitter #CricketFans pic.twitter.com/5Zm9izwF4Q

— Sarvesh Pawar (@sarvesh_pawar23) December 22, 2025

Also READ: Top 5 highest opening partnerships for New Zealand in Tests ft. Devon Conway & Tom Latham

MUMBAI: Thanking the people of Maharashtra for BJP’s resounding victory in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections on Sunday, CM Devendra Fadnavis told the media in Nagpur: “I had predicted that 75% of the nagar [council] presidents will be from Mahayuti and the poll results endorse it. Nearly 3,300 corporators are from the Mahayuti. Once again BJP is the number one party with 48% of the nagar presidents.” Pointing out that the Mahayuti alliance has repeated the assembly results, he predicted: “We shall do much better in the municipal corporation elections.”

Describing the poll outcome as a “trailer” for the larger civic battles ahead, deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief Ekanth Shinde said Sunday’s results signalled that BJP would “score a century”, while Shiv Sena would notch up a “half-century with a strong strike rate” in the upcoming polls.Shinde said the mandate proved that Shiv Sena was no longer confined to Thane or Mumbai, but had expanded its footprint across Maharashtra, including smaller towns and regions like Konkan and Raigad. In an apparent swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde said voters preferred leaders who work onthe ground and “those sitting at home met the same fate”.He added that the total number of seats won by the opposition was even less than the tally secured by Shiv Sena alone in the recent local body elections.Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who proved his dominance over Baramati and Pune district as the polls delivered a clear win for his faction in the first civic contest sincethe party’s split, said one must see whom the people are standing with.Crediting Fadnavis’s transparent governance and peopleoriented decisions as having played a decisive role in BJP’s resounding win, state party chief Ravindra Chavan said the opposition was visibly missing on the ground during the campaign. He said the quick compensation paid by govt to farmers was acknowledged, as they ensured Mahayuti’s win.

THANE/NAVI MUMBAI: The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance’s decisive local election victory on Sunday reinforced its political dominance in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) after the 2024 assembly elections.BJP trumped deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in its bastions of Ambernath and Badlapur in Thane district by wresting control of the municipal council president posts. BJP’s Tejashree Karanjule Patil defeated exmunicipal council president Manisha Walekar of Sena by a margin of more than 6,000 votes. BJP candidate Pawan Walekar, whose office was targeted in a firing incident three days before Ambernath went to polls, defeated his cousin, Nikhil, an ex-corporator and the son of Shiv Sena city president Arvind Walekar.

Although Sena improved its tally to 27 seats from 24 in 2015, the loss of the directly elected president’s post has effectively shifted control of the council to BJP. According to political observers, Sena’s defeat in Ambernath, which is represented by Shinde’s MP son Shrikant Shinde, was due to deep-rooted factionalism within the party and Congress cutting into its traditional vote base in key pockets.Congress showed improved performance in Ambernath, increasing its seat count from eight in 2015 to 12 seats under the leadership of city president Pradeep Patil. NCP (SP) snatched Uran and neighbouring Karjat from the Mahayuti, dealing a blow to BJP MLA Mahesh Baladi in Uran and Sena MLA Mahendra Thorve in Karjat.In Palghar district, Sena secured the municipal council president posts in Palghar and Dahanu, while BJP captured Jawhar municipal council and Wada nagar panchayat. In Dahanu, Shiv Sena candidate Rajendra Machhi defeated BJP’s Bharat Rajput by 4,055 votes.In Badlapur, BJP’s Ruchita Ghorpade secured a decisive victory in the direct presidential election, defeating Shiv Sena leader Waman Mhatre’s wife Veena by a margin of over 7,000 votes. The result was seen as a prestige battle, especially as Sena contested the election on its own,while BJP fought in alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. While both BJP and Shiv Sena won 23 seats each in the 49member council, BJP’s capture of the president’s post has tilted the balance of power in its favour.

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Sanju Samson (Pic credit: BCCI)

Sanju Samson has forever been in queue. His selection in India’s T20 World Cup team as an opener is his moment, at the age of 31 after nearly a decade of debates on him finding a definite place in India’s XI. Clearly this moment has not come without any chaos.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The call looks strategically on point, especially after his exploits at the top of the order in Shubman Gill‘s absence after the T20 World Cup in 2024. Yet, all Samson got in reward was utter confusion in 2025.

And it’s not just Samson. Over the past three years, the Indian team management seemed to have struggled to zero in on their wicketkeeper in T20Is. Managements have changed, but the musical chairs between Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Samson and Ishan Kishan continued. Jitesh Sharma was the latest addition to that list, till he too was not picked for the World Cup early next year in India and Sri Lanka.The selectors and team management had locked Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as their T20I openers after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from the format. Neither Gill nor Jaiswal are now in the T20 World Cup team.The management ceded to Abhishek Sharma‘s brutal hitting abilities at the top of the order while Jaiswal was away on Test duties, it abstained from giving the same freedom to Samson once Gill became available for T20Is. That Samson had superior numbers than even Abhishek in the period they batted together, was conveniently ignored.

After the last IPL, the word spread that the team management wanted the wicketkeeper to bat down the order. And Samson was again thrown out of his comfort zone despite captain Suryakumar Yadav assuring him complete backing at top of the order last year.In this period, there were suggestions that he struggled outside the powerplay and against top-notch pace. But then, none of the other wicketkeepers in contention could command a place based on the numbers. Ishan Kishan, brought in as the second wicketkeeper after two years at the expense of Jitesh, has a lower strike-rate and average than even Pant.After a stirring comeback in the last T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday, Samson was put in a spot when the broadcasters asked him if he was going to open from here on. “Please don’t put me in such positions,” a coy Samson replied after maintaining that he understood the team management’s call in the previous matches.

“To be fair to him, he only got to play if someone was rested or with the second-string sides. One felt he was trying too hard to impress and outdo himself,” former India batting coach Vikram Rathour had told TOI last Nov before mentioning how Samson has become calm and stopped complaining even when he sat out of the XI during the last T20 World Cup.The team management had the chance to have absolute clarity around wicketkeepers once Samson found his calling as an opener. But they deviated from him before pivoting back to him at the last moment.Now, with Surya claiming that the team management isn’t bothered about the left-right combinations, there could potentially be another twist to the Samson tale.For all his prowess, Samson has always been the dispensable one. After long, there is some clarity around a wicketkeeper in the T20Is setup. It’s for both Samson and the team management to have some consistency of thought and put the debate to rest, at least till the runup to the T20 World Cup.