MNS chief Raj Thackeray (ANI photo)

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who recently forged an alliance with his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray ahead of the BMC polls, warned Uttar Pradesh and Bihar migrants against the Hindi imposition. Thackeray said he would “kick” people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh out of Maharashtra if they “try to impose Hindi”.

“People from UP and Bihar should understand that Hindi is not your language. I don’t hate the language… But if you try to impose it, I’ll kick you. They’re coming from all sides to Maharashtra and snatching away your share… If land and language are gone, you will be finished,” Raj Thackeray was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.Calling the BMC polls the “last election for the Marathi man”, Thackeray said: “If you miss this opportunity today, you will be finished. Unite for Marathi and Maharashtra.” “Today, this crisis has arrived at your doorstep… This is the last election for the Marathi man… If you miss this opportunity today, you will be finished. Unite for Marathi and Maharashtra. Mumbai was obtained through the sacrifices of so many people… What will we tell them?… The BLA (Booth Level Agents) appointed at 6 AM should be ready on election day… Be alert, be vigilant, don’t be careless… If anyone comes to vote again, throw them out,” Thackeray said.Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray on Sunday mounted a joint attack on the rival BJP over what they described as “fake Hindutva” at a rally held ahead of the civic polls, saying their political reunion was prompted by an imminent “danger” to Mumbai.Uddhav said he and Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), had set aside their differences in the interest of the Marathi manoos, Hindus, and Maharashtra.Appealing to the core Marathi votebank, Raj said the two leaders had come together as Mumbai was facing danger.“This is the last election for Marathi manoos. If he makes a mistake now, the battle (for Mumbai) will be lost forever,” he said.Speaking after Raj, the Sena (UBT) chief questioned whether the BJP wanted to rename Mumbai as “Bombay”, referring to remarks made by Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai.Accusing the BJP of practising divisive politics ahead of elections, Uddhav said, “BJP’s Hindutva and nationalism are fake.”“The BJP has become a party which says corruption first, instead of nation first,” he added.

“What’s the point of all I achieved?” Those raw words from MC Mary Kom – a six-time world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medalist – cut deep. The 43-year-old boxing legend opened up to PTI in a recent interview and spoke about one of the darkest chapters of her life: A painful divorce from husband Onler Kom, near-bankruptcy, stolen properties, and relentless social media slander. Here’s what she revealed:From Olympic glory to personal lossMary Kom was married to Onler Kom for over 20 years, and so the news of their divorce a few months ago came as a huge surprise for everyone. Speaking about what really went wrong in her marriage for the first time, she told PTI in an interview that things were fine till she was competing and not managing her finances. “Things were fine till I was competing and had very little involvement in my finances, but when I got injured before the 2022 Commonwealth Games, I realised I was living a lie.“But a career-ending injury before the 2022 Commonwealth Games changed everything. “I was bedridden for several months, and needed a walker after that. It was then that I realised that the man I had trusted was not what I believed him to be. I did not want it to be a spectacle for the world, so I sought a divorce after several attempts to resolve it between us,” she shared.The betrayal stung deepest financially. “He transferred my properties to his name, took crores in loans, mortgaged my land.” Locals in Churachandpur seized her hard-earned property when debts went unpaid.Mary Kom on being made the villain in her marriage

Mary stayed silent for two years after her divorce, hoping privacy would heal her wounds. But people were unkind and judgmental towards her on social media. Recalling the painful period, Mary Kom further said, “I informed my family and his family that it cannot continue, and they understood. I was hoping that it would stay private, but then a concerted attempt has been made to slander me for the last one year. I thought I would not respond, but then my silence was being misread and the attacks kept increasing.“…there are news reports that call me the greedy one, who forced him to contest elections (2022 in Manipur). I did not do any of it. Things which were only discussed between me and him are being fed to tabloids to paint me as the villain and my character is being questioned. I had to react at some point,” she added.Sharing her pain after the divorce, Mary said that all she now wants to simply focus on raising her kids and taking care of her elderly parents.“What is the point of my achievements? Kya fayda, I have been left broken but I can’t even afford to grieve. Because I have four kids to take care of, parents who are dependent on me… I haven’t and don’t wish to take any police action but just leave me alone, stop slandering me,” she said.What Onler has to say about Mary’s allegations against him

Onler denies wrongdoing, reports PTI, “Not involved in anything wrong,” he is supposed to have said.When motherhood became Mary’s fightFor the unversed, Mary Kom has four children with her ex-husband Onler: three sons, including twins, and a daughter. And in such difficult times, her children are what inspire her to keep going. “Can you stay down with children watching?,” she asks. Mary shared that she is now rebuilding her life through endorsements, IOA appearances, and heading the Athletes Commission. “God gives strength. This is one long boxing bout,” she added.Why Mary Kom’s story resonates with manyIndian sports icon betrayed isn’t just tabloid fodder. It’s every woman rebuilding after trust shatters. Mary Kom-Onler divorce gains people’s attention because her vulnerability humanises the legend.What moves you most about Mary’s fight? Share in the comment section below.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will square off against UP Warriorz (UPW) in the fifth match of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, on Monday.

RCB, buoyed by a thrilling three-wicket chase over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the opening match of the tournament, chase consolidation, while UPW hunts a first win post their narrow loss to Gujarat Giants (GG).

RCB vs UPW, WPL 2026: Match details

• Date and Time: January 12; 7:30 pm IST / 2:00 pm GMT
• Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai

RCB vs UPW, Head-to-Head Record in WPL

Matches played: 06 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru won: 03 | UP Warriorz won: 03 | No result/Tied: 0

Dr DY Patil Sports Academy Pitch Report

The Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy is a renowned batting paradise, offering a hard, flat surface with reliable bounce. For this evening fixture, the ball is expected to reach the bat smoothly, favoring aggressive stroke-makers. Although the red soil might provide pacers some early swing, the short boundaries and lightning-fast outfield heavily benefit the hitters.

A critical factor is the evening dew, which typically arrives during the second innings. This moisture makes the ball difficult for spinners to grip, often tilting the scales further toward the batting side. Given these conditions, the toss will be vital; captains are likely to bowl first to avoid the worst of the dew and capitalize on favorable chasing conditions under the lights.

Squads

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, D. Hemalatha, Sayali Satghare

UP Warriorz: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni

Also READ: WPL 2026 – Full list of commentators and presenters at the Women’s Premier League

RCB vs UPW, WPL 2026: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• RCB wins the toss and bowls first
• UP Warriorz powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
• UP Warriorz total score: 190-200

Case 2:

• UP Warriorz wins the toss and bowls first
• RCB’s powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
• RCB’s total score: 160-170

Match result: UP Warriorz to win the contest.

Also READ: Jemimah Rodrigues reveals how Richa Ghosh dismantled Alyssa Healy’s sledge with an unforgettable reply

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

MUMBAI: In their first rally for the BMC polls at Shivaji Park ground, where the Shiv Sena was founded, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday accused BJP of trying to remove Mumbai from Maharashtra and also attempting to divide Marathi people, revealing their main electoral plank for the polls.They said they came together to save Mumbai and Maharashtra. The cousins also emphasised how the Adani group received the bulk of projects in the country and the state.Uddhav said that when his party was in power in the BMC, they created deposits worth Rs 3 lakh, but BJP created a scam worth Rs 3 lakh crore. He also claimed that most of the projects in the city used cement from the Adani group.Raj alleged that BJP’s long-term game plan was to join Mumbai to Gujarat. “The Vadhavan port is being developed. BJP wants to take control of Palghar and join Mumbai to Gujarat. That is their long-term plan.”The MNS chief further alleged that BJP wants to control municipal corporations so it could control land transactions more easily. “They will then be able to give Adani more land.”Pointing out that the number of projects given to the Adani group shot up both in the country and the state from 2014, before PM Modi came to power, to 2024, Raj said: “The Adani group had projects in cement, ports, airports, power, real estate, data centres. Why was one corporate group favoured so much?” On the spate of unopposed elections to municipal corporations in which Mahayuti candidates are set to win, he said, “As many as 66 elections are unopposed. BJP is taking away your right to vote.”He also said that BJP was trying to divide Marathi people in Mumbai and edge them out of the city. “This is the last election for Marathi people. If you miss this opportunity, who will you go to?” asked Raj.He said that the martyrs of the Samyutka Maharashtra movement saved Mumbai from being given to Gujarat. Uddhav said the Jan Sangh was not involved in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, and mentioned that patriotic Muslims, like Shahir Amar Shaikh, were part of it. He challenged CM Devendra Fadnavis to conduct a poll campaign without bringing in a communal divide. “If he can conduct one election without bringing in Hindu-Muslim issues, I am willing to give him Rs 1 lakh.” Uddhav also questioned BJP’s electoral alliances with the MIM in Akot and Congress. “When you do it, it is ‘Amar Prem’, and when we do it, it is ‘Love Jihad’?”

MUMBAI: Shiva Sena (UBT) candidate Rajool Patil’s campaign trail begins where Bhandup’s hills get crowded—inside the slum pockets of Ward 114, where narrow lanes double up as thoroughfares, markets and play areas.A familiar face in the neighbourhood for years, Patil is best known locally not for politics but for her work as an ambassador encouraging organ donation. Now, this cricket enthusiast entered the BMC election arena with a sharply defined pitch: declutter the congested settlements on Bhandup hills and secure the ward’s first dedicated playground for children.Ward 114’s residents speak of daily gridlock, hawkers spilling into already tight streets, and civic services struggling to keep pace with a growing population and redevelopment activity. Sewerage lines, they say, are under pressure; drinking water remains a challenge in the hilly terrain; and traffic discipline is often missing on roads that were never designed for today’s volume.“I am young and the voters here have known me since childhood and my earnestness in working for a noble cause—be it social work, organ donation or organising local sports activities. They have accepted my decision to contest this election and I hope this translates into a good number of votes,” Patil said, while acknowledging that the contest will be far from easy. A rebel candidate is in the fray as an Independent, and another rival is contesting from the Shiv Sena (Shinde) camp, setting up a multi-cornered fight.Patil is the daughter of Sena UBT MP Sanjay Patil, but she insists her appeal must stand on her own work. “My dad is definitely an advantage as he is popular with local voters, but I have assured citizens in the ward that I will be available 24×7 to listen to their problems and find solutions,” she said. Her to-do list is pointed: clean up the area, widen roads where possible, discipline traffic, improve sewerage, and push SRA redevelopment “wherever necessary”.A key promise is a playground—an issue that resonates in a ward where children often play between parked vehicles and crowded bylanes. Patil argues that even when redevelopment happens, open spaces for sports are rarely planned, despite local talent emerging from the area in the past. Patil is betting on a youth-driven mandate and her social-work credibility, citing her involvement in organ donation, including facilitating consent for over 3,000 eye donations.

Mani Shankar Aiyar (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar stirred another row on Sunday after he said Hindutva is “Hinduism in paranoia,” which drew a strong response from the ruling BJP. During the debate on “Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva”, hosted by the Calcutta Debating Circle, Aiyar said Hindutva is a BJP leader “slapping a blind, hungry tribal girl because she attends a Christmas lunch in a Church”.Aiyar also said Hindutva asks “80 per cent of Hindus to quiver in front of 14 per cent of Muslims”.

“Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia. It asks 80% Hindus to quiver in front of 14% Muslims. Hindutva is a BJP leader slapping a blind, hungry tribal girl because she attends a Christmas lunch in a Church. Hindutva raids shopping malls to tear down Christmas decorations,” said Aiyar during the debate. He also quoted VD Savarkar, saying that the Hindutva ideologue saw Buddhism as an existential threat to all Hindus. “He described it as the ultimate negation of Hindutva, bearing the opiate of universalism and nonviolence. He said it was disastrous to national virility and even the existence of the Hindu race,” said Aiyar, referring to Savarkar.‘Hindutva a political tract’Drawing a distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva, Aiyar said Hinduism is “a great spiritual religion, while Hindutva is a political tract.” He also said that Hinduism faced trials and tribulations yet managed to survive and flourish without any need for Hindutva’s protection.“Hinduism is a great spiritual religion. Hindutva is a political tract. Hindutva came only in 1923; for thousands of years before Hindutva, Hinduism faced trial and tribulation and yet survived, flourished, with no need of Hindutva protection… There is no way Gandhi’s and Swami Vivekananda’s Hinduism can be protected or promoted by Savarkar’s Hindutva,” Aiyar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.‘Cherishing Hinduism is Hindutva’Speaking at the same event, Rajya Sabha member and BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi said that Hindutva represents ‘Hindu tattva,’ which forms the core essence of Hinduism. He further argued that Hinduism is unique among religions in granting its followers the authority to debate, even on its sacred texts.“… Which culture gives you the authority to debate even on religious texts. It is only Hindu… I would like to ask why the term Hinduism? Why is ‘ism’ associated with all the religions which originated in India? Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. You have never heard of Islamism and Christianism… The ‘ism’ world is being associated just to demean, and what Hindutva is, ‘Hindu tattva’. The basic immunity of Hinduism is Hindu tattva... Another thing I would like to say, when you cherish Hinduism, it is called Hindutva,” the Trivedi said.Lashing out at Aiyar’s remark, the BJP’s national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said: “Yet again Congress attempts to create a divide between Hindus.” They want 1 Hindu to Stand up against the other Hindu. This benefits Congress whose only focus is -“Consolidate Vote Bank: Unite Minority, Divide Hindu Majority,” he said.

US President Donald Trump has once again openly pushed for the United States to acquire Greenland, dismissing Denmark’s role and warning that the Arctic island could otherwise fall under Russian or Chinese influence.Asked whether he had made a tangible offer to Greenland or Denmark, Trump replied, “I haven’t done that. But Greenland should make the deal because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over.”

While speaking to reporters, Trump claimed that Greenland should make a deal because its existing defences were minimal. “Do you know what their defense is? Two dog sleds. In the meantime, you have Russian destroyers and submarines and China destroyers and submarines all over the place. We’re not going to let that happen,” he said.“And if it affects Nato, and then it affects Nato, but you know, they need us much more than we need them,” he added.His remarks came as the United Kingdom and Germany are reported to be discussing plans for a joint NATO mission to protect Arctic security in Greenland.Also read: Trump orders special forces to draw up Greenland invasion plan — what we knowAsked whether such talks changed his approach, Trump responded with a blunt “no” and stressed that their objective was taking complete control. “Look, we’re talking about acquiring, not leasing, not having it short term. We’re talking about acquiring,” he said.On whether the US would expand its military presence on the island in the interim, Trump said American forces were already stationed there. “We have bases on Greenland. Yeah. A lot of soldiers there right now, if I want,” he said, but added that this was insufficient.“But you need more than that. You need ownership. You really have. You really need title,” Trump said.Also read: Billionaires bet on Greenland as Trump hints at taking it ‘the hard way’Meanwhile, Denmark’s prime minister said her country faces a “decisive moment” amid Trump’s repeated threats. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has repeatedly rejected previous US advances, while Copenhagen has maintained that the island is not for sale

MUMBAI: Several wards in the city have witnessed a proliferation of candidates in the BMC elections, particularly in areas with relatively homogeneous voter profiles such as slum clusters, besides Dalitdominated neighbourhoods and Muslim pockets.Data from the nominations show that 18 wards have 15 or more candidates each, increasing the complexity of the contest.

In six of these wards, the number of contestants has exceeded the limit of 16 candidates per ballot unit. These wards also have a large number of independent candidates, alongside entries from national parties, regional outfits and smaller political formations — some of which have limited organisational presence in Mumbai, but influence in other states. While such fragmentation appears to intensify competition, analysts point out that it often works to the advantage of larger parties.

Mrudul Nile, professor of political science at Mumbai University, attributed the factions of various parties and political fragmentation of some communities, as one of the reasons for proliferation of candidates. Bigger parties also field proxy candidates sometimes with the same names. In areas dominated by voters who are homogenous and of socio-economically disadvantaged groups, every party fields its candidates. Some contest to ensure their candidature is considered for the next elections, he said.“At this point, it is difficult for independent candidates, lesser-known candidates or candidates of smaller parties to get elected, and a large number of candidates help major parties. Aspirations among the lower socio-economic groups also leads to an increased number of candidates,” Nile added.Political scientist Surendra Jondhale said: “…a large number of people have political aspirations. People with a bit of money and net worth consider contesting elections, while some look at it as a tool to earn money….Many also think that they can buy votes in slum pockets to get elected even if they do not secure tickets from parties…”Bhiwandi MLA Rais Shaikh said for the socio-economically disadvantaged groups the stakes are higher. “For some of thes candidates, contesting polls is a way of getting recognition…,” he said.