Sharad Pawar, Sunetra Pawar & Supriya Sule

NEW DELHI: The sudden death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar in a plane crash has triggered fresh churn in the state’s politics, reopening talks of a reunification of the two NCP factions led by the Pawars.The rumoured merger of the two NCP factions led by Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar is “very much on course”, with talks having reached an “advanced stage” even before the deputy chief minister’s death in Wednesday’s plane crash, sources aware of the talks told news agency PTI.“The process of bringing the family and the party back together was already in motion. Ajit dada himself had held several rounds of discussions with senior leaders to bridge the gap,” the sources said.The tragedy, they say, may now accelerate the process rather than stall it.

NCP factions eyeing February merger?

Negotiators from both the ruling NCP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) confirmed that discussions were well underway, with a tentative announcement earlier planned for February 8, shortly after the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, the agency said.The two factions had already “tested the waters” by jointly contesting the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls under the NCP’s clock symbol, which was a clear sign of a thaw after the dramatic 2023 split.

The 4 frontrunners: Who will fill the vacuum?

While the NCP (SP) believes Sharad Pawar will naturally return to a “central role” in guiding a unified party, the ruling NCP is keen on preserving the Pawar family’s political legacy.Ajit Pawar’s death has left the ruling NCP without a clear leader. With senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal unwell, the party now faces uncertainty over leadership as well as key cabinet portfolios, including finance and excise, which were handled by Ajit Pawar.Apart from Sharad Pawar, sources said three names have emerged as frontrunners to lead a merged NCP: Sunetra Pawar, Supriya Sule and senior leader Praful Patel.Sources said Ajit Pawar’s wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar is being considered for the post of deputy chief minister. There is a growing chorus within the ruling NCP in favour of appointing Sunetra Pawar as party president as well as leader of the legislative party.However, if that option does not materialise due to any reasons then Praful Patel is being seen as the next likely choice to take charge, sources added.

Will Ajit Pawar’s death speed up reunification?

Sources said Ajit Pawar had meticulously planned the reunification of the two NCP factions and viewed the merger as part of a long-term strategy, keeping the 2029 elections and the party’s future relevance in mind. He was confident the reunion would take place with the consent of his uncle, Sharad Pawar.Reunification was also Ajit Pawar’s last wish, according to Kiran Gujar, a member of Vidya Pratishthan and a close associate of the Pawar family for over four decades.Speaking to reporters after the immersion of Ajit Pawar’s ashes, Gujar said, “Today, the ashes of Ajit Pawar were immersed at Sangam here. It was ‘Dada’s’ last wish that this (merger of two factions of NCP) should happen. All should be united. Talks about this were happening throughout the family. In my last phone call with him, he had asked me for some election-related papers.”“He was one hundred per cent keen on merging both the factions. He had told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and the merger was imminent in the next few days,” Gujar told PTI.Asked whether Ajit Pawar had discussed the issue with Sharad Pawar, Gujar said that “positive talks were underway with Pawar saheb, Supriya Tai (Supriya Sule) and other leaders”, and there were indications that the senior Pawar would endorse the move.“Many positive things were on the cards, but this tragedy struck and took Ajit ‘Dada’ away from us. Now, after his death, it has become even more imperative that both factions come together and work for the betterment of Baramati and the state,” he said.Just days before the fatal plane crash, Ajit Pawar had also met NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil to finalise organisational unity and power-sharing arrangements. Even as merger talks gathered momentum, a section of party workers in the NCP has begun debating Ajit Pawar’s successor.Ajit Pawar himself had earlier told TOI that reuniting the party was his immediate political goal, with the blessings of Sharad Pawar.The moment carries a stark irony. Ajit Pawar was the architect of the 2023 split that fractured the NCP and aligned a majority of its legislators with the BJP–Shiv Sena-led Mahayuti government, leaving Sharad Pawar’s faction in opposition.Yet, despite the split, Ajit Pawar retained the party’s official identity, with the Election Commission recognising his group as the “real” NCP and awarding it the “watch” symbol.

Maharashtra’s power dynamics

Ajit Pawar’s NCP currently holds 40 MLAs, while the Sharad Pawar faction has 10.A merged party would command over 50 MLAs, potentially altering equations within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).However, even if a unified NCP were to exit the ruling alliance, the Devendra Fadnavis government would remain secure, with the Mahayuti holding 235 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly.Political analysts say the bigger impact could be in western Maharashtra, the NCP’s traditional “sugar belt” — where the BJP has made recent inroads.For now, the February 7 local body polls will act as a “coordinated tribute” to the late leader, with both NCP factions contesting together under the clock symbol, seen as a prelude to a possible reunification after the results are declared on February 9.

A well-crafted budget has the potential to unlock new opportunities for growth and with careful planning and foresight, individuals can make the most of it. (AI image)

By Jiju VidyadharanThe Union Budget 2026 provides the government an opportunity to accelerate India’s economic transformation in the wake of prolonged global uncertainties and higher tariffs imposed by the United States.Crisil has projected India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 7% for fiscal 2026, driven by consumption support, government’s infrastructure thrust and policy initiatives. According to the forecast by the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Report of April 2025, India is the world’s fourth-largest economy and could surpass Germany to become the third-largest in the next three years, with GDP projected to reach $7.3 trillion by 2030. Rationalisation of the goods and services tax rates and strong balance sheets of corporates and financial institutions, coupled with supportive monetary and fiscal policies, are expected to bolster economic activity.The next phase of India’s growth will not only be driven by government spending or corporate capital expenditure but also household participation in the financial markets. India has relatively higher savings rates 1 among top economies. Within gross financial savings, we see increased allocation to capital market instruments like mutual funds and insurance. Indian households have traditionally favoured fixed-income products. Globally, there are two avenues of funding growth—loan and capital markets. The domestic mutual fund industry’s assets under management (AUM) clocked a CAGR of over 20% in the past five fiscals to reach Rs 80.23 lakh crore as of December 2025. The mutual fund folio count rose 16.11% on-year to 26.12 crore. Systematic investment plan (SIP) assets stood at Rs 16.63 lakh crore, accounting for 20.7% of the overall mutual fund assets, driven by the highest ever monthly inflow of Rs 31,002 crore. While retail participation in equity markets has seen strong growth, largely driven by SIPs and market-linked returns, debt remains underrepresented in household portfolios, with savings still skewed toward traditional fixed deposits. Debt AUM as a percentage of total AUM declined to 22.6% from ~45% in December 2020.Against this backdrop, we have two key expectations from the budget from a personal finance standpoint:Incentives for the debt marketDeepening the debt market is critical from an issuer’s perspective to ensure access to long term, cost-effective funding and an investor’s perspective, offering liquidity, transparency and risk diversification. Asset allocation plays a critical role in building long-term financial stability and the growth of the debt market is central to this balance. Strengthening the debt market through targeted incentives such as tax efficiency, product innovation and greater awareness can encourage a gradual shift from plain fixed deposit products to diversified debt instruments. This will not only improve risk-adjusted outcomes for investors through better asset allocation but also channel a larger pool of household savings into the formal debt market, enhancing liquidity, deepening market depth and supporting the overall financial system. 1.Tax incentives for investors: Restore indexation benefits for long-term debt investments, lower capital gains tax on debt mutual funds held beyond a defined period.2. Incentives for greater participation in market-linked debt instruments: Promote and encourage higher retail participation through online bond platform providers with simplified know your customer norms and lower ticket sizes. In addition, provide budgetary support for financial literacy on debt products and asset allocation.Social security—Retirement and insuranceSocial security in India continues to have significant scope for deeper penetration, especially across the vast unorganised sector where formal retirement and protection mechanisms remain limited. While salaried participation in structured retirement products has improved, a large segment of the workforce still lacks access to pension and insurance cover, underscoring the need for wider inclusion. Over the past year, the National Pension System has seen meaningful refinements in the form of greater flexibility, improved choice architecture and efforts to enhance ease of participation, strengthening its position as a core retirement product. With a broader product basket now in place, there is an opportunity to introduce targeted incentives and policy measures to widen retirement coverage in the unorganised sector. To widen the social security net, a mutual fund voluntary retirement account (MF-VRA) scheme can be rolled out, which aims to provide a voluntary, employer-linked retirement product, managed by mutual funds, similar to the US’ 401(k) plan. The MF-VRA scheme could build on the long-term policy laid out by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, enhancing reach and promoting financial inclusion. It could ride on the growth of mutual funds in India, which has crossed assets worth Rs 80 lakh crore as of December 2025. Personal finance and economic growth are intricately linked. Put simply, when individuals invest wisely through diversified equity and debt instruments, their financial security improves and the economy benefits from long-term capital. A well-crafted budget has the potential to unlock new opportunities for growth and with careful planning and foresight, individuals can make the most of it.(Jiju Vidyadharan is Senior Director, Crisil Intelligence)

With the five-match T20I series already decided in India‘s favour, the spotlight has shifted to an intriguing individual battle ahead of the fifth and final game. New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry has revealed his strategy to counter India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been one of the most talked-about performers of the series despite a mixed run of scores.

Abhishek Sharma’s high-risk, high-reward performance

Abhishek’s journey in the ongoing series has been a classic example of modern T20 batting — feast or famine. In four matches so far, the left-hander has produced two breathtaking half-centuries alongside two ducks, underlining both his destructive potential and the risks that come with his aggressive approach.

When Abhishek has clicked, he has completely taken the game away from the opposition. His blistering 84 in the series opener laid the foundation for a dominant Indian victory, while his unbeaten 68 in the third T20I was even more remarkable. That knock included a 14-ball fifty, the second-fastest by an Indian in T20 internationals, and showcased his ability to dismantle bowling attacks in a matter of minutes. Both innings earned him Player of the Match awards and played a decisive role in India sealing an unassailable series lead.

Matt Henry’s impressive bowling in the series

On the other side of the contest, Henry has been a rare bright spot for New Zealand in what has otherwise been a challenging series. The right-arm pacer has consistently struck early, putting India under pressure right from the first over.

In the fourth T20I on January 28, Henry removed Abhishek on the very first ball of the second innings. That dismissal followed another first-ball wicket in the third T20I, where he sent back Sanju Samson. With those efforts, Henry became the first player in T20I history to take a wicket on the first ball of the innings in two consecutive matches.

His impact was most evident in New Zealand’s lone win of the series. Henry finished with figures of 1/24 in three overs, and his early breakthrough against Abhishek set the tone for India’s 50-run defeat.

Also READ: ICC T20I Rankings: Abhishek Sharma holds numero uno spot, Suryakumar Yadav breaks into top 10

Henry opens up on plans to stop Abhishek

Ahead of the series finale, Henry acknowledged the challenge of bowling to a batter like Abhishek, who has built a reputation for fearlessness not only in international cricket but also in the Indian Premier League. He emphasised that the key lies in sustained pressure rather than searching for magic deliveries.

“He’s been playing brilliantly over the last two years and he’s been taking to attacks, not just in international cricket but in the IPL as well,” Henry said while speaking to the media on the eve of the fifth T20I.

According to Henry, bowlers must be prepared for mixed overs against such aggressive batters and focus on responding strongly rather than getting distracted.

“It all comes back down to accuracy. You have to be accurate at what you’re doing and you’re just trying to put your best foot forward,” he added.

Also READ: Fans react after Shivam Dube’s brave knock falls short as New Zealand ends losing streak with 50-run win over India in 4th T20I

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is congratulated by Alexander Zverev, right, of Germany following their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangakra)

For those not familiar, the term sigma male is a modern-day Jungian internet archetype used to describe a man who is ostensibly independent, self-assured, and operates outside traditional social hierarchies. Think Tyler Durden, Travis Bickle, or John Wick.Of course, like most internet slang, it has become a parody of its original meaning, with the term used to describe malignant (and often misogynist) internet personalities that appeal to incels. The term was rather in vogue last year after influencers Jake Paul and Andrew Tate lost fights to professional athletes, with some even dubbing the losses “9/11 for sigma males”. Soliloquies on internet culture aside, the losses were a reminder of the gap that exists between regular people and athletes. Like the time billionaire Bill Ackman learnt this while participating in the Hall of Fame Open, where he could barely lay racket on ball.Most non-athletes wouldn’t last in a cage, ring, or court with a professional. But even amongst professional athletes, there’s a rare breed that has access to a metaphorical place their less hallowed peers wish they could reach. They operate at a level that even fellow professionals fail to comprehend. It’s both mental and physical.As Andre Agassi said after his 2005 US Open Final loss to Roger Federer: “In the tiebreak, he goes to a place that I don’t recognize…. I feel for the man who is fated to play Agassi to his Sampras.”Now Agassi is no shrinking violet; he is the first man to win a Career Golden Slam. One of the greatest returners in the game, and yet he couldn’t believe what Federer was doing.During their time, the Big Three showed how they were a cut above the rest. Their dedication to the craft was unmatched. Novak Djokovic has spent the last decade living like a hermit. Rafa Nadal pushed his body to a level that seemed unfathomable, perfectly epitomised by the John McEnroe line: “This kid is sensational, is he going to play every point like that?” Federer, as Agassi observed, looked like he could play a professional match without breaking a sweat, as if he should wear a smoking jacket instead of tennis gear. Federer looked like he was dancing on the court. Nadal covered every blade of grass, every grain of sand, every inch of clay. Djokovic looked like — and still looks like at 38 — he could go on for days, seemingly powered by a perpetual motion machine from another universe.Ivan Lendl, another man who knows his way around the tennis circuit, observed in 2017 while coaching Andy Murray, who was attempting a comeback after hip surgery: “The top guys are top guys because they do things a little bit better than the other guys. Yes, they can get upset, or the others can upset them, but if they play 100 times they are going to win more than half. They are better in stroke production, movement, physically. You put all that into a package and the package is slightly better than the guys below.”

And at Melbourne Park, Carlos Alcaraz reminded us how he is cut from the same cloth as the GOATs before his era.Before the semi-final, the murmur around the Australian Open — and the online chatter that follows it — suggested this had been too one-sided a tournament so far. One that could have been an email instead of a whole tournament because a Sincaraz final looked inevitable. Sinner and Alcaraz met in six finals in 2025, three of them Grand Slams. They have evenly split the last eight majors. And their meeting in the first Slam of 2026 seemed inevitable until it seemed impossible as Alcaraz lay on the floor.We have seen Alcaraz do remarkable things in his career so far. His drop shot can leave opponents wrong-footed. In the last few years, he has made good on his promise to become a serve bot. At times, he hits shots from angles that even cameras cannot catch.Alcaraz was cruising against Zverev with a two-set lead when cramps laid him low. And suddenly, he couldn’t walk, swing, or move at will. His movement was oddly reminiscent of Aussie cricketer Glenn Maxwell against Afghanistan in the 2024 ODI World Cup, where the Aussie was laid low by cramps. But like Maxwell, Alcaraz found a way out.His medical timeout will be discussed ad nauseam. Zverev’s infuriated response has already launched a million reactions on Tennis Twitter. Boris Becker added his two cents, which he is wont to do on issues outside tennis as well.Perhaps the organisers at Slams go out of their way to help the stars, given that it’s their presence that draws the big bucks and eyeballs. But what’s undeniable is that Alcaraz managed to reach into that special fountain of fortitude available only to the greatest players. Zverev’s outrage during the timeout foreshadowed the things to come.

Alexander Zverev of Germany gesturers to a tournament official during his semifinal match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Even after getting back on his feet, Alcaraz could barely keep up. And yet he would not give up. After the match he explained: “I always say you have to believe in yourself, no matter what you’re struggling [with], what you’ve been through, you’ve got to still believe in yourself all the time.”As Lendl had explained: “That’s how people win tournaments — they fight. It doesn’t come easy. You don’t always play your best and you have to get through that and fighting is part of it. When you play, sometimes you feel tired and you have to push through that pain barrier as well…”The Spaniard never stopped believing, and neither did the crowd, even when Zverev was serving for the match at 5-4. But in what seemed like an instant, Alcaraz had his arms aloft, level at 5-5, and suddenly ahead at 6-5.Watching them side by side was watching two responses to pressure unfold in real time. Zverev had the match on his racket, serving at 5-4, physically strong and dictating rallies, a player built to impose order. Alcaraz could barely move an hour earlier, yet he kept reaching for variety — drop shots, angled returns, sudden changes of pace — as if chaos itself were a weapon. One tried to close the door through force. The other kept opening windows through imagination. In the end, it wasn’t the healthier body that prevailed but the player willing to keep inventing solutions when logic said the match was over.One shot summed up the contrast. Appearing to hit a normal return, Alcaraz suddenly feinted a drop shot at 5-5 that seemed to send Zverev crumbling.Zverev is a good player trying to become great. He was the youngest player to debut in the top 20 since Novak Djokovic. He beat Roger Federer on grass when he was 17. At home, Zverev is called Sascha, the Russian diminutive for Alexander the Great, who wept after believing there was no world left to conquer. But as the match progressed, one wondered whether Sascha could conquer the demons in his mind — the ones that need to be exorcised to win a Grand Slam title.Alcaraz, on the other hand, has no such demons. The Career Grand Slam remains the Holy Grail of tennis. Eight men have done it, with four in the Open Era. The youngest so far is Don Budge, who was 22 years and 11 months when he completed it, though it was during an era when tennis was played on two surfaces: grass and clay. The youngest to do it in the Open Era was Rafael Nadal at 24 years and three months.Alcaraz, on the other hand, could become the youngest to complete the set. The ones standing in his way will be his great rival Sinner or Novak Djokovic, who is 38 now but refuses to go quietly into the night and wants to become the first man to win 25 Slams. Time will tell who emerges triumphant, but one thing is for sure: no matter what happens on Sunday, Alcaraz’s renaissance from the face of defeat will live long in the annals of the Australian Open.

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in the devastating fire at two godowns in Kolkata’s Anandapur area and announced ex-gratia assistance for the victims from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.In a statement, the PMO said, “The recent fire mishap in Anandapur, West Bengal is very tragic and saddening. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest.” He added that “An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.”Also read – Kolkata godown fire: 11 charred bodies recovered, 23 still missing; families in limboAt least 11 people have died in the fire, while around 23 others missing, raising fears that the toll could climb further. So far, 21 body parts, including partially burnt and skeletal remains, have been recovered from the site, officials said. The blaze broke out around 3 am on Monday at a godown belonging to Pushpanjali Decorators and rapidly spread to an adjacent warehouse operated by food chain Wow! Momo near Ruby crossing. Officials said inflammable materials stored in both structures caused the fire to spread quickly, trapping workers inside.Police said only three of the nearly 37 workers present managed to escape. Most of those inside were staying on the godown premises and hailed from neighbouring districts. By Tuesday evening, 11 charred bodies had been recovered, with authorities saying DNA tests would be conducted to establish identities. Rescue operations continued cautiously as large portions of the structures had collapsed, slowing the search for those feared trapped under debris.West Bengal urban development minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, who visited the site, announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each affected family. Narendrapur police detained Gangadhar Das, the owner of Pushpanjali Decorators, from his East Midnapore residence. According to officials, Das owns the land on which both warehouses were built, while the Wow! Momo unit was operating on lease.Preliminary investigations have pointed to serious fire safety lapses. A senior police officer said, “An investigation is on to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. Prima facie we suspect the blaze started from a cooking oven. We are also looking into fire safety compliance of the godowns.” Fire minister Sujit Bose said the units were operating without mandatory fire safety clearances. “A probe has been initiated to ascertain the cause. We are also checking if fire audit was done. Stern legal action will be taken against the godown owners for lapses,” he said.Wow! Momo, however, said its warehouse had complied with safety norms. A company spokesperson said, “Twenty-eight fire extinguishers were installed inside the warehouse. The godown that belongs to the decorator’s company did not have any compliance and the fire spread from there.”As rescue teams continued operations, relatives of missing workers gathered at the site, anxiously seeking information. Many were seen breaking down, uncertain about the fate of their family members. “We are waiting for any word, but the silence is deafening. Our boys came here to earn a living, not to disappear into ash,” said a relative of one of the missing workers from Panskura.