In a blistering opening to the second innings at the R. Premadasa Stadium in T20 World Cup 2026, India‘s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya has signaled a ruthless intent to defend the target of 176 against Pakistan. The atmosphere in Colombo, already electric after Ishan Kishan‘s attacking 77, reached a fever pitch as the Indian vice-captain dismantled Pakistan’s top order within the very first over of the chase.

Hardik Pandya’s wicket-maiden as Sahibzada Farhan falls for a duck

Hardik produced a clinical opening over that has left Pakistan reeling in their pursuit of 176. In a tactical surprise, captain Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to Hardik instead of Jasprit Bumrah to start the attack. Pandya rewarded the faith instantly with a spectacular wicket-maiden; after pinning Sahibzada Farhan with three probing dot balls, he induced a mistimed pull off a sharp, back-of-length delivery. The ball ballooned toward mid-on, where Rinku Singh remained ice-cool under pressure to complete the catch. This dismissal sent Farhan back for a four-ball duck and further cemented Hardik’s status as Pakistan’s primary nemesis, marking his 16th career T20I wicket against the arch-rivals.

Here’s the video:

No sixes, no documentary? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai 🤐

Hardik Pandya 🤝 Rinku Singh

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/SpqYo6n3dL pic.twitter.com/2YlRIY60pv

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 15, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Ishan Kishan joins Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir’s elite list after explosive 77 vs Pakistan

Jasprit Bumrah’s double strike: Pakistan crumble in the powerplay

The nightmare for Pakistan intensified in the second over as Bumrah reminded the world why he is the gold standard of fast bowling. Despite Saim Ayub greeting him with a fortuitous six on the first ball, Bumrah responded with a trademark, searing in-swinging yorker that trapped Ayub (6) plumb in front of the stumps.

Just two balls later, Bumrah struck again, inducing a leading edge from Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha (4) that was comfortably swallowed by Pandya at mid-on. The carnage didn’t stop there, as Axar Patel was introduced in the 4th over and immediately cleaned up Babar Azam (5) with a delivery that skidded through the gates. By the end of the Powerplay, Pakistan’s chase was in total disarray at 38/4, with the R. Premadasa crowd witnessing one of the most clinical bowling displays in the tournament’s history.

Also READ: ‘Sanju Samson should have played’: Fans troll Abhishek Sharma after he falls for a 4-ball duck during IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Mumbai: The Maharashtra govt is exploring the development of an education hub (EduHub) to boost the internationalisation of state’s public universities including Mumbai, Savitribai Phule Pune, Nagpur and Shivaji University, Kolhapur. While the National Education Policy (NEP) has already paved the way for foreign universities to set up campuses in India, the state’s next focus will be on retaining Indian students and attracting international ones to its public universities through collaborations, joint centres (initially in their existing campuses) and academic partnerships.Based on a report submitted by a consulting firm, the govt is considering positioning state universities as potential destinations for international students. The aim of the internationalisation policy floated by the consulting firm is to ‘position state public universities in Maharashtra as globally reputed institutions and increase their competitiveness by strengthening their research ecosystem and fostering international collaborations’. The EduHub will be in addition to the proposed EduCity, which is being developed for international universities setting shops here. Five international universities have already received the letters of interest (LoIs) from the UGC to start campuses in EduCity. The report estimates that Maharashtra accounted for 12% of India’s total outbound student outflow in 2024. A govt representative said the idea for EduHub is still in its early stages and will take time to take shape. “In the long run, we aim not only to retain Indian students who currently go abroad for higher education, but also to attract international students to our university campuses.” An official said that initially the idea is to have international branch campuses within the campuses of state universities and then allowing them to go independent. No location has been identified yet, though vacant land along the Samruddhi Mahamarg is under consideration. Once the idea shapes up, the govt will incentivise utilities, he added.For the development of the education hub, the consulting firm in its report has recommended strengthening capacity, research orientation, and global linkages of state public universities. The focus areas as per the report is to enable world-class infrastructure by strengthening physical, digital and academic infrastructure. Among other focus areas are the enhancement of research and innovation in state universities, by facilitating access to funding, international collaborations, and industry partnerships, thereby positioning state universities at the forefront of knowledge creation; promoting academic collaborations and internationalisation through inter-university collaborations, joint/twining/dual degree programmes; developing support mechanism for international students, including a designated ‘Study in Maharashtra’ portal, language and cultural support to attract and retain international students and enhance the global diversity of the state’s campuses.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi left Tehran on Sunday for Geneva to take part in the second round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States, Iranian state media reported, with AFP confirming the development.Araghchi “left Tehran for Geneva late Sunday heading a diplomatic and technical delegation to conduct the second round of nuclear talks and hold a number of diplomatic consultations,” Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement, according to AFP. “Indirect Iran–US nuclear talks will be held on Tuesday with the mediation and good offices of Oman.”

The talks follow an initial round held in Muscat on February 6, when Tehran and Washington resumed negotiations months after earlier efforts collapsed. Those talks had broken down after Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran last June, triggering a 12-day conflict that included US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.Oman is again mediating the discussions. During his Geneva visit, Araghchi is expected to meet his Swiss and Omani counterparts as well as Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and other international officials, the foreign ministry said. Switzerland has long represented US interests in Iran since diplomatic ties were severed following the 1980 hostage crisis.The renewed engagement comes amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that Washington could resort to military action if Tehran does not curb its nuclear activities, and has deployed an aircraft carrier group to the region following Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests last month. Iran has said it would retaliate in the event of an attack, while Gulf Arab states have warned that escalation could spark a wider regional conflict. Lately, Tehran has also signalled it might scale down its nuclear program if the US agrees to lift sanctions. The Trump administration maintains that Iran must halt all uranium enrichment – a demand Tehran has rejected. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, though it has enriched uranium to 60% purity in the past, close to weapons-grade levels.AFP reported that Araghchi led the Iranian delegation in the February 6 talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Muscat.Iranian deputy foreign minister Hamid Ghanbari was quoted by Fars news agency as saying Tehran was seeking a deal that would generate economic benefits for both countries, including in aviation, mining and oil and gas. “For the agreement to be viable, it is essential that the United States also be able to benefit from it in areas with strong and rapid economic return potential,” he said.(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha (L) and India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav (R) after the coin toss of the T20 World Cup cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (AP)

Was Sunday’s India vs Pakistan clash ever not going to happen?I don’t think anybody directly involved with cricket administration was in major doubt. It was always a matter of who would blink first.

From that standpoint, Pakistan latched onto the first opportunity they got to find a way back into the ecosystem.Look at the sequence of events…Last week it did not take the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) more than 90 minutes after the conclusion of these so-called talks with the ICC to go back to the Prime Minister and get a go-ahead for the game. It’s remarkable for a cricket board to have that kind of access to the PMO — that you can knock on his door at 11:30 at night and, within half an hour, come back with an answer saying, ‘Yes, we’re playing.’Each country — whether it’s India, Pakistan, or even Bangladesh in this case — is going to draw conclusions from its own perspective as to how things transpired. But here’s a question that can be collectively answered: What would have been the consequence if India and Pakistan had not played this Sunday game, and if this whole India-Pakistan-Bangladesh relationship had fallen apart in the backdrop of everything that happened over the last month?The answer is clear: Cricket in the Indian subcontinent would have died — at least for the next 5–10 years.

India’s and Pakistan’s fan arrive to watch the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

That means a cricketing economy worth around US$250–300 million would have been totally wiped out from the game.This would have had a cascading effect not just on India-Pakistan. It would have had a cascading effect on any India-Pakistan-Bangladesh game. It would have had a cascading effect on the Asia Cup. The property’s existing rights cycle would’ve died overnight.In the ICC media rights spectrum, the India market is sold separately. Imagine the impact it would’ve had on the India rights.Think of the credibility the ICC would have lost in the wake of a cancellation. In time to come, would they be able to pitch a tournament or a media rights cycle to another broadcaster or a sponsor? What kind of credibility would ICC members be left with? That your participating nations can simply drop out of a tournament one week or a fortnight before it is going to start? Do you think any top-dollar investor would ever think of putting money here?I don’t think people understand the gravity of what I’m saying.Eight of the full members under ICC membership are on the brink of bankruptcy at any given point in time. Can they afford to lose out on these opportunities — especially the ones that come up during ICC tournaments?Participation fees are the bread and butter for some of the teams to run their cricket.

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, left, smiles as he and Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha walk out onto the field for the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Pakistan’s threat of a pullout was a fake one. It’s not like Mohsin Naqvi doesn’t understand these numbers and the underlying facts, just as he very well understands that running away with a trophy doesn’t really mean a thing.In the end, it’s very nice to come out with a grin on your face and say, “Whatever, we got our demands,” and for clueless digital bots on X to cheer these claims.But truth be asked, what demands got fulfilled?In 2024, an ICC tournament was taken away from Bangladesh — the Women’s World Cup. Between 2029 and 2031, Bangladesh will be given another tournament, right? It is essentially the same tournament that will now not be held.

India’s fan wait for the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan to begin in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Other than that, I don’t think the ICC has gone ahead and given anything outside of what was already due to them. So, this whole chatter that the ICC was under pressure and did this or that is mere humbug. The more important aspect of discussion here is nobody wants to talk about the pressure that cricket in the subcontinent was under.And then you blame India, saying they are happy playing the IPL and don’t care about the others?India is happy feasting on the IPL, the bilateral rights and the ICC rights revenue. Enough cash keeps ringing in to help them keep their vast domestic circuit going, and distribute enough within the ecosystem as pension funds, contracts, membership grants, infrastructure subsidies, so on and so forth.The others need to worry about themselves; that’s where statements proclaiming false bravado don’t always sit well.When this match happens and the players walk out onto the field, there can be all kinds of posturing — whether they shake hands or not, all the drama. There can be words exchanged, trophy moments, and so on. People on X (earlier Twitter) will come and have opinions, argue, troll, abuse.But the only people who would’ve ended up losing are those who were threatening all along, making false claims, while waiting for an excuse to do a U-turn.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi in meeting with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif.

The lesson learnt is this: beyond a certain point, such threats don’t work.Let’s agree that the BCCI was wrong in what they did to Mustafizur Rahman. They should not have done that. The timing, the reasoning — everything was wrong.But I have always said, two wrongs don’t make a right.The BCCI made a mistake by removing Mustafizur just before the World Cup, putting the ICC in a spot.The moment the BCCI took the call on Mustafizur, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided to stretch the issue. It was election season in Bangladesh, and one should remember – politics works the same in all parts of the world.They saw the perfect opportunity to raise a stink.

ICC chair Jay Shah (Photo by ICC)

The mistake they made was saying they would not tour India for security reasons – building on BCCI’s decision to cancel Mustafizur’s IPL. The moment they said it was due to “security reasons,” the ICC had no choice but to conduct an independent risk assessment.Had Bangladesh said on Day One that this had nothing to do with security risks and that they were taking a stand in response to what the BCCI had done to Mustafizur, then it would have become a diplomatic issue between India and Bangladesh; and there is no way Pakistan would have got an opportunity to interfere, because it would have been a bilateral matter.But Bangladesh making it into a security issue ate up 15-20 days in independent assessment and gave Pakistan enough time to participate in some mischief-mongering.Later, Bangladeshi officials themselves admitted off the record that their government had clearly told them not to visit India. Fair enough, but that’s also the stand they should’ve publicly taken.PCB offering solidarity to a country that did not care to tour Pakistan for over a decade and then doing a U-turn to paint the eventual scenario where they’re playing India but Bangladesh are eventually out of the tournament doesn’t really help anybody’s cause.So, what solidarity are we talking about?Nobody in the right frame of mind has found it safe enough to tour Pakistan — forget India. To that extent, India has stated on record that for ICC or ACC tournaments, the Indian team won’t tour Pakistan and Pakistan won’t tour India. They’ll play at a neutral venue.There’s a signed agreement between the two neighbours for this rights cycle and the next underlining this.Now, what if India had said, we don’t want to come there, that’s it — you either come here or drop out of the tournament? That’s when a statement like Nasser Hussain’s—“What if it was India?”—would’ve made sense.Not when the BCCI has agreed to play this fair, knowing very well their participation alone keeps cricket in the Indian sub-continent going.This match was supposed to happen in Colombo. Pakistan couldn’t have walked away from a signed legal agreement by citing ‘Force Majeure’.Whoever in the PCB thought of sharing this great idea clearly doesn’t understand how ‘Force Majeure’ works. It doesn’t work on the idea of so-called ‘solidarity’ that lacks logic or reason.Instead, legal consequences would’ve started piling up if Pak didn’t do the U-turn and they knew it well.What force majeure were PCB officials talking about anyway? The Prime Minister’s office taking a call at 11:30 pm saying his country won’t play a certain country in a global tournament where you’ve signed specific agreements to that effect doesn’t mean a thing, just the way the Prime Minister’s office doing a U-turn some days later doesn’t mean a thing.So, let’s just move on by saying – thankfully, the focus is back on the game, and all the humbug has evaporated.An India vs Pakistan clash is not a standalone economic juggernaut anymore, like it used to be. An India versus Australia is the greatest rivalry in cricket — economically speaking. There are numbers to underline this fact.The charm of an India-Pakistan faded a long time ago. In fact, Pakistan just made this worse by trying to board a wagon that wasn’t theirs to ply and in turn have come out looking like gold-diggers holding the ecosystem to ransom.

PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan underwent an eye examination at Adiala Jail on Sunday following a Supreme Court order, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) calling the process as “malicious” and questioning the exclusion of his family and personal doctors.According to news website Dawn, a five-member medical team conducted a detailed examination that lasted about an hour. The doctors collected blood samples, measured his blood pressure and brought their own equipment. The process reportedly began after a two-and-a-half-hour wait and a report is expected to be compiled soon.Shortly after the examination ended around 5.30 pm, PTI issued a statement on X rejecting the procedure and objecting to the absence of Imran’s family and personal physicians.“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf categorically rejects the recent conduct of the government and jail administration regarding the medical examination of former prime minister Imran Khan’s eye in Adiala Jail. The government’s claim that a message was sent to the party leadership to arrive at the jail at the time of the examination is, in fact, a crude attempt to divert attention from the core issue,” the party said.Explaining its objection, the statement added, “This matter was never about the presence or absence of the party leadership. In such sensitive and delicate medical matters, the constitutional, moral, and legal right to make decisions belongs to Imran Khan’s family. The family cannot make an informed decision until Imran Khan’s personal doctors are present for the examination. Therefore, inviting the party leadership symbolically has neither any moral rationale nor any legal justification.”Imran’s sister Aleema Khanum also said that no medical board would be accepted without the approval of his personal doctors. Referring to reports that he might be shifted to Al-Shifa Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi, she reiterated, “Our demand has been clear from the beginning. Imran Khan shall not be given any treatment without the presence and approval of his personal doctors and family members.”She further said, “We do not accept any medical board they set up and control! We do not accept any reports or results they manufacture.”Questioning the exclusion of family members and doctors recommended by Imran’s team, she asked, “Why are they rejecting the supervision by Imran Khan’s personal doctors? Why are they rejecting the presence of Imran Khan’s family members? Why such fierce resistance? Are they hiding something?”The examination was carried out after the Supreme Court directed the formation of a medical board to assess Imran’s condition. The order followed his claim on February 12 that his right eye retained only 15 per cent vision. The court also allowed him to speak with his children before February 16.Although government officials had indicated on Saturday that Imran might be transferred to a hospital, no shift had taken place by Sunday afternoon. At 3.45 pm, his sister Noreen Khanum said that an ambulance had arrived at the jail to move him.“But, this is unacceptable to us without us and Khan sahib’s personal doctors being taken into confidence,” she said.The jail superintendent dismissed reports of a transfer as a “rumour” and clarified that only a medical examination was underway.“The medical team will examine Imran’s eyes, conduct different tests, and decide whether there is a requirement to move him to a hospital or if he can be retained in jail and continue the treatment here,” the superintendent said.Imran had earlier undergone a medical procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on the night of January 24, a development that was confirmed later amid limited information shared with his family.Imran’s personal physicians, Aasim Yusuf and Faisal Sultan, also called for a comprehensive evaluation at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, news agnecy PTI reported citing Dawn.In a joint video statement they said, “In addition to urgent retina specialist care for his central retinal vein occlusion and severe vision loss, Imran Khan needs a full multidisciplinary evaluation of his underlying conditions at a tertiary hospital like Shifa International Islamabad.”Meanwhile, the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance continued its sit-in at Parliament House for the third day, demanding that Imran be treated at a hospital chosen by his personal doctors.PTI MNA Asad Qaiser told reporters, “We will not compromise on Imran’s health.”A TTAP leader said that the initial understanding to shift Imran to Shifa International collapsed due to demands to change the composition of the medical board. The alliance also alleged that access to food, water and medicines inside Parliament House had been blocked for the third day.Describing the reported denial of medicine to Senator Abbas as an “extreme and condemnable act,” the alliance said, “Prioritising any political disagreement over human compassion and medical needs is the worst form of oppression.”Vowing to continue the protest, TTAP stated, “History bears witness that tyrannical tricks, sieges, and oppression have never suppressed movements, nor forced those standing firm on the right side to back down from their demands.”The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed grave concern over the health of PTI-affiliated prisoners, particularly Imran Khan and Yasmin Rashid and urged authorities to ensure immediate independent medical examinations and uninterrupted access to treatment.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Sunday ordered an immediate special intensive safety inspection across the entire Wadala–Kasarvadavali Metro 4 corridor, a day after a parapet segment of an underconstruction viaduct structure fell on an autorickshaw and a car that were passing below on LBS Road in Mulund, killing a 50-year-old man and injuring three others.Preliminary probe has suggested that the precast parapet installed on the night of February 12 was not properly concretised and its temporary fastening may have been disturbed during handling, causing it to dislodge and fall. MMRDA has cited prima facie negligence by the contractor RAJV-Milan Infra and the sub-contractor, along with inadequate supervision by the project’s general consultant DB-Hill-LBG consortium. It added that a detailed probe has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the fatal incident and fix responsibility. MMRDA has already suspended an executive engineer.On Sunday, the five arrested accused from RAJV-Milan Infra and DB-Hill-LBG consortium were remanded in three-day police custody by the Dadar holiday court. Mulund police said they are looking for two more persons — a welder and a project consultant.In an office order issued by additional metropolitan commissioner Ashwin Mudgal, MMRDA termed the safety inspection an “extraordinary preventive and corrective measure” following Saturday’s incident reported around 12.15pm near pier P196, close to the Mulund fire station, and said it would be carried out in addition to the ongoing accident inquiry. The inspection will continue for three to four days with day-wise documentation of unsafe conditions and corrective measures. A consolidated report recommending preventive steps and advising on resumption or continuation of works will be submitted to the competent authority on priority.Unlike a routine probe limited to the accident location, the inspection will cover the full corridor to identify systemic risks in design, execution or supervision. Officials said the decision was taken as the fallen element was a precast component installed above a busy traffic corridor, raising concerns about similar vulnerabilities elsewhere along the elevated alignment.The authority has constituted a multi-disciplinary safety inspection team headed by Basavraj M. Bhadragond, director (projects), MMRDA. The team includes senior quality, design and construction supervision engineers, along with external safety heads from other Metro lines who will independently record observations as part of the official record.The inspection has been divided into two stretches — Wadala to Sonapur under deputy team leader Abhijit Bhishikar, and Sonapur to Gaimukh under deputy team leader Madhukar Kharat — to enable parallel verification across the corridor. The audit will examine structural and safety components including parapets, edge beams, crash barriers, structural elements above live traffic, reinforcement detailing, anchorage, temporary supports, debris protection measures and barricading arrangements. It will also verify compliance with approved drawings, method statements and safety protocols.Significantly, the order empowers the team to act immediately. Any element found unsafe or non-compliant must be secured, removed or rectified without waiting for the final report, and construction activity at such locations can be restricted or suspended until written clearance is granted.Contractors, consultants and supervision staff have been directed to provide unrestricted site access and produce drawings, method statements and quality assurance records. Any lapse in compliance, supervision or execution will be recorded with responsibility attribution for action under contract provisions.Mulund police noted that no prior intimation was given to police, traffic department, BMC, or other authorities, and adequate safety precautions were not taken at the Metro 4 construction site despite public complaints. Police have registered an FIR against the project officials and other responsible persons concerned for negligence leading to death, grievous injuries, and damage to property under the relevant sections of the BNS.The arrested accused were identified as project director Harish Chauhan, project manager Kuldeep Sapkal, deputy manager Saurab Singh, and supervisor Prashant Bhoir from RAJV-Milan Infra, and project manager Avdhoot Inamdar from DB-Hill-LBG consortium. Mulund police senior inspector Ajay Joshi said they are looking for welder Ramashish and project consultant Sai Suresh.

Fact check: Was Erika Kirk arrested after Candace Owens raised grooming allegation about 15 year old online? (Image via Getty)

Erika Kirk has not been arrested and she is not under investigation. Currently, there is no public record in the United States linking her to any criminal case tied to the viral “grooming” claim. In the past few days, social media posts and a YouTube video claimed that Erika Kirk was arrested while trying to flee to Israel. The claim also linked her name to alleged “grooming” messages from 2014 involving a 15 year old. The story spread quickly after conservative commentator Candace Owens spoke about old screenshots on her show. But as of now, there is no official proof to support these claims.Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, has not been charged, questioned, or arrested in connection with any such allegation. There are also no court filings, police statements, or federal records confirming an arrest.

The grooming claim first appeared through screenshots shared on social platform X. The posts suggested that Erika Kirk exchanged messages in 2014 with an account described online as youth coded. However, the screenshots were never verified. The person behind that account has not publicly accused Erika Kirk of wrongdoing.Later, Candace Owens discussed the screenshots on her show. She did not present court documents or law enforcement proof. After that episode aired, a YouTube channel called Statecraft posted a video claiming Erika Kirk had been arrested while attempting to leave the country for Israel. The video suggested this was connected to both the grooming allegation and the case involving Charlie Kirk’s death.There is no evidence to support that claim. According to publicly available court records in Utah, the man accused in the death of Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, is facing trial in Provo, Utah. That case is separate and does not name Erika Kirk as a suspect or person of interest. Major US media outlets have not reported any arrest or investigation involving her.As of now, no US law enforcement agency has announced charges against Erika Kirk. No arrest record exists in federal or state databases. The claim that she was detained while fleeing to Israel appears to be false. In short, viral posts connected her name to serious allegations. But there is no confirmed proof, no police case, and no verified arrest tied to Erika Kirk.

Pune: Deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar is set to meet party MLAs in Mumbai on Tuesday amid demands for wider consultations on the proposed merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) groups.Former minister and senior NCP MLA Dilip Walse Patil on Saturday said he has received a message about her meeting with all party legislators. Sources said Sunetra is expected to discuss the merger issue and may hold one-on-one interactions with MLAs to seek their views. The move follows statements by several leaders that their opinions should be taken into account before any decision is finalised.Party MLA from Pusad and minister of state Indranil Naik on Sunday said the leadership must consult party functionaries and take them into confidence. “A meeting of all MLAs must be called to discuss the issue in detail, and a collective decision should be taken on the merger. We will present our views when the leadership seeks our opinion,” he added.Earlier, Igatpuri MLA Hiraman Khoskar, speaking to reporters in Delhi, claimed that around 35 of the 40 NCP MLAs, including him, were in favour of a merger of the two factions. “We want the merger to happen, and that will be a true tribute to Ajitdada. I will share my opinion with Sunetratai in the meeting,” he said.Leaders of the NCP (SP) earlier claimed that Ajit Pawar was keen on a merger after the local body polls and that a series of meetings had been held to discuss it.A party MLA from Pune confirmed that legislators have been called for Tuesday’s meeting. “The agenda has not been formally communicated, but the merger issue is likely to be discussed,” he said, adding that Sunetra may interact with each MLA individually.On Saturday, NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde said there would be no further discussions on the merger within the party and that no leader would comment publicly on the issue, as it was perceived that they were taking an aggressive stand.NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil, who claimed to be among the key leaders involved in discussions with Ajit Pawar on the proposed merger, told reporters in Pune on Saturday that it was Ajit Pawar who initiated the talks and visited his residence 11 times to discuss it. “Looking at the political reactions to the matter, I have decided not to comment any further,” Patil said.Earlier, senior NCP leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbal ruled out any immediate discussions on a merger, stating that the final decision would rest with Sunetra. He said the party’s immediate priority was to strengthen her leadership and ensure her election as national president. The merger issue would be taken up only after the national president is elected, and the decision would be made by her, he added.Addressing the newly elected members of the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti, Walse Patil said, “Whatever talks are going on, I do not want to get into them. After Ajit Pawar’s demise, we now have a bigger responsibility before us. I urge all elected members not to indulge in lobbying or become adamant about posts, and to accept whatever responsibility the party assigns.”

India’s economic expansion is increasingly extending beyond its largest metropolitan centres, with several districts in northern and eastern states emerging as new hubs of activity, even as established metros continue to dominate overall rankings, according to a new report.The findings are based on the City Vitality Index (CVI), Q1 2026, released by Dun & Bradstreet, which uses satellite-based Earth Observation data to track economic activity across more than 700 districts in real time.

Ahmedabad tops overall rankings

Ahmedabad retained the top position in the overall rankings, while Bengaluru slipped to second place. Delhi climbed to third, marking one of the strongest upward movements among major metropolitan centres.Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai recorded modest declines but remained within the top 10.Among Class-Y emerging districts, North 24 Parganas secured the first position, followed by Thane and Jaipur, indicating stable performance among fast-growing urban centres.

Northern, eastern districts show sharp gains

“What stands out this quarter is the sharp upward mobility across several northern and eastern districts,” Arun Singh, global chief economist at Dun & Bradstreet, was quoted as saying by ET.“Cities such as Gurugram, Hooghly, Moradabad, Samastipur and Madhubani have posted some of the strongest rank improvements, while Gonda’s 20-place surge to overall rank 13 signals how infrastructure, agriculture and connectivity are reshaping local economies. These shifts indicate the rise of new growth poles beyond conventional urban centres,” he said.According to the report, Gurugram jumped 34 places in the rankings, while Hooghly and Moradabad rose 20 ranks each.The index highlights a broader trend of decentralised growth, with economic activity spreading into districts beyond traditional metropolitan strongholds, supported by improvements in infrastructure and connectivity.