NEW DELHI: The Congress would have a strong feeling of deja vu about the turn of events in Karnataka. The grand-old-party stares at a political crisis in the state that threatens the very stability of its government. Ironically, while the crisis is in Karnataka, on test is the Congress high command – which has proved to be a bad crisis manager in recent times.The open power tussle between chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar has reached a point of no return, forcing the top leadership into a huddle. Ironically, the seeds of the current crisis were sown two-and-a-half years back – when both the regional stalwarts had staked claim to the CM post – following the party’s emphatic victory over the BJP in the 2023 assembly elections. So the big question is: Has the top Congress leadership failed to act in time, yet again? We have seen similar leadership tussles play out in two states – Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – where the factionalism between state Congress leaders played a key role in the party eventually losing power. The common thread in all three states has been the Congress leadership’s reluctance to act decisively in the fight between the party’s old guard and the younger leaders.In Madhya Pradesh, when Jyotiraditya Scindia wanted to step into the leadership role, Congress backed veteran heavyweights Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh. This eventually saw the Scindia Junior quitting the party and joining the BJP. Scindia’s revolt brought down the Congress government and in the next assembly elections, Kamal Nath and Digivijay Singh failed miserably to counter the BJP. Today, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh is in doldrums while Scindia is a Union minister.In Rajasthan, when Sachin Pilot, who as state president had led the Congress to emphatic victory in 2018, sought the chief minister’s chair, the party again backed state veteran Ashok Gehlot. Gehlot, who had led the party to defeat in 2013, became the chief minister again and Sachin Pilot and his supporters were left disappointed. When Sachin stepped up his campaign for the top job, Gehlot used his full might to crush the rebellion. Pilot, who camped at a resort with his supporters, was eventually convinced by the Gandhi family to stay with the party. While the party high command bet big on Gehlot, he could not win the state in 2024.Now, we see a similar script play out in Karnataka. Siddramaiah, who was made the chief minister in 2013, led the party to defeat in 2018. DK Shivakumar, as the state Congress president, played a key role in the party’s victory in 2023. But once again, senior leader Siddaramaiah staked claim to the top post and the party eventually went with him. DKS then remained defiant for almost a week before eventually relenting. DKS now claims that there was a secret deal in the know of five-six people about rotating the post of chief minister and wants the Congress high command to ensure that he gets his due. But the Congress high command, as usual, allowed the crisis to blow out of hand. And now, when the factionalism is out in the open, it is trying to broker a truce.The last-minute crisis management may save the Congress government in Karnataka for now, but the open power tussle has the potential to damage the party’s image and perhaps also its electoral prospects. The Congress had managed a historic victory against the BJP in 2023. Instead of consolidating its gains, the party finds itself managing the power play between its state leadership. But then, this is how the Congress high command has worked in recent years. The Congress high command needed to anticipate this crisis in Karnataka and should have worked to find a balance between Siddaramaiah, who is past his prime, and DKS – who is the strongest contender to lead the party forward. Perhaps the Congress leadership needs to be reminded about an old adage: A stitch in time saves nine.It will be interesting to see how the Congress high command wriggles out of this crisis and how much this impacts the party’s prospects in the 2028 assembly elections. Is the grand old party on the verge of losing yet another state?

India reaches ‘major power’ status in Asia Power Index 2025

NEW DELHI: India has secured third rank in the Asia Power Index, giving it the status of ‘major power’. India has secured this ranking in the Lowy Institute study based on its performance in Operation Sindoor.The first two ranks of ‘superpowers’ were retained by the United States and China, respectively.In 2024, India was ranked among the ‘middle powers’, with a comprehensive score of 38.1, whereas in this year’s reports, India scored 40 out of 100. It stands ahead of Japan and Russia, which hold the fourth and fifth positions, scoring 38.8 and 32.1, respectively. However, the nation still sees a large aspirational gap as compared to China, which has 73.7 points on the index. The US topped the rankings with 80.5 points.

As per the detailed assessments, India’s rank is backed by its growth in terms of economic and military capabilities. Notably, India rose to ninth place in economic relationships, driven by increases in inward investment.The Lowy Institute said the modest advances in India’s geopolitical relevance were measured through international connectivity, leverage, and technological development. It also highlighted India’s military capabilities to have grown steadily.“For the most part, these gains were from improved expert appraisals of its capability, which were likely influenced by India’s performance in Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, which added to India’s recent combat experience,” the institute said.India saw its sharpest decline in terms of defence networks, dropping its rank to 11th position. It dropped two ranks lower as compared to the 2024 rankings, which were overtaken by the Philippines and Thailand.According to the index, India overtook China as the country attracting the most inward investment after the United States, an indicator capturing 10-year cumulative flows. Overall, the institute concludes that India’s recent military experience and economic momentum have strengthened its regional standing, even as challenges persist in building defence partnerships.The Australia-based think tank study assesses a nation’s ability to influence its external environment among the power states in Asia.

Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Khadi & Village Industries, Silk, Handloom & Textiles, Rakesh Sachan, during the ceremony.

The Uttar Pradesh Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 concluded on Thursday, drawing lakhs of visitors and generating trade worth around Rs 5 crore, officials said. The pavilion was centred on the theme “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” and showcased products from across the state, including Chikankari from Lucknow, Firozabad glasswork, Varanasi silk, Saharanpur woodcraft, Bhadohi-Mirzapur carpets, Khurja ceramics and Aligarh metalware.State MSME, khadi & village industries, silk, handloom & textiles minister Rakesh Sachan visited the pavilion on the final day to review the exhibits. At the conclusion ceremony, he awarded certificates to participating units and acknowledged the efforts of entrepreneurs, artisans, women’s groups and start-ups. UP also secured a bronze medal in the pavilion performance category.Addressing visitors, Sachan said the government is working to expand opportunities for small and micro industries and promote “inclusive, sustainable growth.” He said the Chief Minister Youth Entrepreneur Development Campaign (CM-YUVA) offers interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh, targeting the benefit of over 10 lakh enterprises in the next decade. He also outlined incentives under the MSME Act 2020 and MSME Policy 2022, including stamp duty exemptions and capital and interest subsidies.More than 150 stalls were set up this year, with the One District One Product (ODOP) gallery drawing significant footfall for its district-specific crafts. Departments including Information, Tourism, UPCIDA, Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority and Yamuna Expressway Authority showcased development projects and investment-linked initiatives.Additional commissioner of industries Rajkamal Yadav and other senior officials were also present during the closing event.

Confirmation of Ahmedabad as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG) has sounded the starting gun for an accelerated infrastructure race across the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar belt. The Commonwealth Sport General Assembly’s approval on Wednesday has pushed the twin cities into delivery mode, with officials stressing that major venue construction plans are locked into a firm timeline.Speaking to the media in Glasgow after Ahmedabad won hosting rights, Gujarat principal secretary (sports, youth and cultural activities) Ashwani Kumar said that the city is poised to be the sports capital of India. “The construction of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave (SVPSE) and the Police Academy Sports Hub will begin in April 2026 and finish by late 2028 or early 2029,” he said.

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He announced that funding for both these projects had been secured by the govt and that “most venues for the 2030 Games are ready”. He also said that the “organising committee will be constituted within a month”.Long-term visionMuch of the Games’ footprint will be centred on the SVPSE — a purpose-built zone that will anchor Gujarat’s longterm sporting ecosystem. The enclave will house an arena, aquatic centre, tennis courts, training zones, and athlete villages. The Karai Police Academy complex will host athletics, shooting and other disciplines. For Gujarat, the CWG is as much about global visibility as about creating infrastructural and sporting capacity that endures beyond 2030.

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Unlike some sporting meets that span multiple states, the 2030 Games will be strikingly compact, concentrated almost entirely within the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar cluster. That will enable faster movement and a lower carbon footprint. “This compactness cuts athlete travel time and allows seamless integration of metro, BRTS and electric mobility,” states the document, ‘Games Vision, Concept and Legacy — Commonwealth Games 2030’, presented before the CWG committee. Only two disciplines — cycling at the Statue of Unity (near Kevadia) and women’s cricket in Vadodara — will take place outside this hub.The Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium, will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2030 Games — massive productions that are expected to reflect the Commonwealth Sport values.Beyond the Games, Gujarat — which hosted the National Games in 2022 — is pushing lesser-known disciplines like netball, lawn bowls, kabaddi, and yogasana into the spotlight. The bigger shift is strategic — Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar aim to become year round sports cities, with high performance labs, community spaces and university-linked infrastructure to ensure post Games utilisation.

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Focus on sustainabilityAhmedabad also plans to discuss sustainability, diversity and inclusion during the Commonwealth heads of govt meeting (CHOGM) 2026 and 2028.Tejas Joshi, president of Credai Gujarat, said, “Hosting the CWG will be a game changer for Ahmedabad. The city’s infrastructure will see a drastic change with improved roads and connectivity. It will create demand for around 20,000 star-category hotel rooms and boost hotel and retail development. It will also eventually bring new migration to the city, resulting in increased housing demand.”Accommodation is expanding fast. “Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar offer 5,420 hotel rooms in the 3-5 star range, with 3,000 more planned, including 1,500 new 5-star rooms. Upgraded university hostels will house athletes during the Games and serve students later,” states the proposal.

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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport, handling 13.4 million passengers annually, will add a new terminal by 2026 to double its capacity and introduce e-gates and kiosks.Eye on olympics“World-class sports academies will be set up, encouraging a sports culture among city youths. After the Commonwealth Games, Ahmedabad aims to host the 2036 Olympics. The next decade will bring historic developments to the city,” said Joshi.Behind the scenes, athlete development is accelerating. Gujarat’s sports budget has grown from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 521 crore over two decades, strengthening long-term athlete development pathways and strengthening academies. Part of the focus is also on scaling up talent hunts like Khel Mahakumbh, which saw engagement from 7 million participants, and schemes such as Shaktidoot to support athletes.

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Public participation will also be a defining layer. Programmes like Active Gujarat will convert riverfronts and parks into fitness zones. At the same time, Sabarmati Sundays — weekly openstreet events — will be expanded in the run-up to 2030. College students will join as youth ambassadors through the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Cadet Corps (NCC). By 2030, Gujarat plans to train 10,000 volunteers and create over 30,000 jobs linked to the Games.

National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi

SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi accused Thursday his own party’s govt in J&K of “failing to fulfil electoral promises and following BJP’s approach of mere political slogans”.Mehdi, critical of the leadership for nearly a year, launched the latest attack from chief minister Omar Abdullah’s assembly constituency Ganderbal as the NC began a two-day working committee meeting under president Farooq Abdullah and the CM, who is also party vice-president.“We sought votes for restoration of constitutional guarantees under Article 370, and it was one of the main reasons we received a huge mandate in the (Oct 2024 assembly) polls. We promised to strive for the release of political prisoners. We must fulfil all commitments. We can’t adopt BJP’s language after coming to office,” the Srinagar MP told supporters in Ganderbal.According to Mehdi, NC’s election campaign last year was centered on Article 370 but it has focused on seeking statehood (restoration) since taking office. “If we shift from Article 370 to statehood, we are aligning with BJP’s line,” the MP argued.Mehdi claimed ignorance about NC’s meeting. “I am a permanent member of the working committee. This is the first time since 2002 that I have not been invited,” the MP said.Mehdi suggested that his disagreements with the party stemmed from his insistence that it must work on the issues over which votes were sought. “A year has passed. We have not worked on our political and governance agenda. We have not rationalised reservations in J&K. We cannot tell open-merit candidates who are crossing the age bar that we still have five years to act,” Mehdi said, adding the govt had not also kept its promise of 200 units of free electricity.Insisting that he was not protesting against his party but reminding it of its promises and manifesto, Mehdi pointed out that J&K’s people had reposed trust in mainstream political parties after a long time last year, handing NC a big mandate that must be honoured.Mehdi brushed away at statements by deputy CM Surinder Choudhary asking the MP to raise issues in Parliament instead of trying to stay in the limelight. “He (Choudhary) was earlier with BJP, then he joined PDP, and now he is in NC. In his politics there is no principle, no direction, no value,” Mehdi said.The MP also criticised the Omar-led govt over a demolition drive in the Valley against settlers, saying people had voted for NC so that “what is happening in Uttar Pradesh does not happen in Kashmir”.

Manipur is hosting the 12th edition of the Sangai Festival from November 21 to 30, 2025, marking a major cultural moment for the state as it prepares to welcome travellers, artisans and performers to one of India’s most immersive celebrations of heritage and identity.First held in 2010, the Sangai Festival has grown into Manipur’s flagship cultural showcase — a ten-day event described as a “Canvas of Culture”, where the state’s rich tapestry of ethnic communities, crafts and performing arts come alive. Officials and local stakeholders say the upcoming edition carries renewed energy, purpose and anticipation, with communities eager to share stories of resilience and revival.

Celebration of culture, community and storytelling

The festival takes its name from the endangered Sangai deer, Manipur’s state animal, and symbolises the deep connection between communities and the land they inhabit. Each edition is envisioned as an immersive experience that blends culture, identity and warmth, offering visitors a chance to step into a “living canvas” of traditions nurtured over generations.The 2025 edition continues this ethos, showcasing classical and folk dances, martial art demonstrations, musical performances, and storytelling sessions that reflect Manipur’s artistic soul.

Artistry and craftsmanship at the centre

Handwoven textiles, bamboo crafts, pottery and indigenous jewellery remain some of the festival’s biggest attractions. These creations, shaped by local artisans using natural materials, mirror Manipur’s geography, cultural motifs and the close bond between the people and their environment.Visitors often enjoy intimate conversations with artisans who recount the personal histories embedded in their creations. This exchange, organisers say, is a defining feature of the festival and helps deepen connections between visitors and Manipuri culture.

Music that bridges generations

Music continues to be one of the festival’s emotional anchors. Traditional instruments blend seamlessly with contemporary rhythms as young musicians reinterpret age-old forms. This fusion — increasingly popular among younger audiences — reflects a cultural continuity where heritage evolves in step with changing times.

A feast of flavours

Manipuri cuisine is another highlight of the Sangai Festival. Dishes prepared with fresh, local ingredients introduce visitors to the state’s culinary identity, known for its distinct flavours, herbal richness and wholesome preparations. Food stalls often become informal spaces of cultural exchange, where conversations spark connections among visitors and locals.

A ‘special edition’ with renewed purpose

Festival organisers describe the 12th edition as a “special edition” — one marked by renewal and resilience. After a period of challenges and uncertainty, communities are coming together with a revived sense of purpose, eager to showcase both traditional legacies and emerging contemporary talent.Artisans, dancers, musicians and storytellers are preparing to present their work with greater vibrancy, seeing the 2025 edition as a moment for the world to rediscover Manipur’s cultural harmony.

A festival that leaves a mark

Over the years, the Manipur Sangai Festival has earned a reputation for its authenticity, emotional warmth and immersive experiences, often leaving visitors with lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for the state’s cultural heritage.As preparations begin for the November 2025 edition, officials expect strong turnout and renewed national interest. For many travellers, the festival has become more than an event — it is an invitation to witness Manipur’s creative spirit, shared history and the unique bond between culture and community.With ten days of performances, crafts, cuisine and heartfelt storytelling, the Sangai Festival continues to stand out as one of India’s most soulful cultural gatherings, promising to touch hearts and inspire journeys yet again.

AMBALA: A devastating cylinder blast in Ambala’s Friends Colony on Thursday led to a massive fire, claiming lives of a 1.5-year-old boy and his 31-year-old mother, and leaving her 13-year-old daughter critically injured. The deceased were identified as Ekta and her son Priyans, while her daughter Tanushka is critically injured. Officials confirmed that the blaze intensified due to a large quantity of diesel stored inside the house, turning the incident into a major tragedy. Firefighters have since brought the fire under control, but the house was completely gutted.According to eyewitnesses, the house was being used for making

gachak

(sweet made of peanuts and jaggery), when a loud explosion shook the area. The impact triggered flames that shot high into the sky, fuelled by the diesel stored in drums. Neighbours reported seeing the house engulfed within minutes, and the fire quickly spread to an adjacent property before the blaze could be contained.Fire brigade teams rescued the three occupants trapped inside and rushed them to the Civil Hospital. Despite receiving medical care, the child and the woman succumbed to their injuries. The injured teenage girl was referred to a higher medical facility at PGI, Chandigarh for advanced treatment.Dr Aditi from the Civil Hospital, Ambala City confirmed the casualties, stating that the victims suffered severe burn injuries. “A 1.5-year-old child and a 32-year-old woman were brought dead. A 13-year-old girl has been referred due to critical condition,” she said.SDM Darshan Kumar, who reached the site, said preliminary findings indicate that the fire was caused by a cylinder blast. “An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause,” he noted.Fire brigade officials informed that four fire tenders were pressed into service. “We received information about a cylinder blast. Four vehicles were dispatched one after another, and the fire was brought under control. Three people trapped inside were rescued,” an officer said.Officials are continuing to probe the circumstances leading up to the blast and the large stock of diesel inside the residential premises.Investigation officer from Ambala City police station, Roshan, said that Priyansh and Ekta could not be saved while Tanushka is undergoing treatment. To a query about gachak unit being run in residential area, Roshan said the matter is being investigated.