Moscow Belarus Russia Fuel truck exploded at an air base in Ryazan kyiv ukraine Romania madurai l tuesday l december 6, 2022 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Mysterious blasts hit two Russian military air bases Explosion in the area of the Engels air base Attack kills Three servicemen, injures six RIA Novosti news agency said three servicemen were killed and six others injured when a fuel truck exploded at an air base in Ryazan in western Russia. A plane was also reportedly damaged in the blast. The base houses long-range flight tankers that serve to refuel bombers in the air. There were also reports of another explosion at the Engels air base in the Saratov region One explosion happened at a base housing nuclear-capable bombers that have been involved in launching strike on Kyiv ■ 60 Moscow steps up strike against Kyiv ■ The Engels air base houses Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers that have been involved in launching strikes on Ukraine. Those bombers are capable of carrying nuclear weapons Meanwhile, Russia on Monday stepped up its attack against Ukraine, leading to explosions in many parts of the country | P9 of the 70 missiles fired by Moscow shot down on Monday, says Kyiv CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI HP race tight, BJP sweep in Guj: Exit poll BJP in Gujarat, with the Congress finishing a distant second. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could consider itself lucky if it crosses single digits. If the BJP wins, it would be a record seventh successive term for it in Gujarat. However, the Congress appears to have given the BJP a run for its money in Himachal Pradesh, exit polls suggest. Counting of votes will take place on December 8. P ree t h a N air @ New Delhi The BJP appears headed for a record victory in the Gujarat Assembly elections while the race in Himachal Pradesh could be unexpectedly tight, if the poll of exit polls is any indicator. Exit poll results came out in the evening after the last phase Gujarat Assembly elections ended on Monday . Pollsters were unanimous in predicting a clean sweep for the Gujarat The poll of exit polls gave 132 seats to the BJP in the 182member Gujarat Assembly with the Congress and its allies trailing at 38. If the projection holds, it would be a huge blow for the Congress, which secured 77 seats in the 2017 Assembly elections. Its lacklustre performance could affect its morale at a time when it is looking to build up some steam ahead of the 2024 general elections. Congress leaders had claimed the party it will win despite its low key campaign in the state. As for the AAP its high volt, age campaign may not have commensurate results on the ground in Gujarat, with BJP being the big beneficiary . In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP could get to retain power, through with a razor thin margin, as the poll of polls gave it 35 seats, which is also the majority mark in the 68-member Himachal Total seats: 182 | Simple majority: 92 Assembly The Congress could . end up with 30 seats while it will be a no-show for the AAP . However, two exit polls showed a dead heat between the BJP and the Congress in the state, where results could go either way According to the . Chanakya exit poll, it will be a cliffhanger as both the BJP and the Congress may secure 33 seats each. The India-Today Axis poll gave the Congress an edge with 30-40 seats. Total seats: 68 | Simple majority: 35 Poll BJP CONG+NCP AAP OTH Republic TV P-MARQ 128-148 30-42 2-10 0-3 Poll BJP CONG AAP OTH Republic TV P-MARQ 34-39 28-33 0-1 1-4 Aaj Tak-Axis My India 129-151 16-30 9-21 2-6 Times Now-ETG 135-145 24-34 6-16 1-3 Aaj Tak-Axis My India 24-34 30-40 0 4-8 Times Now-ETG 34-42 24-32 0 1-3 ABP News-CVoter 128-140 31-43 3-11 2-6 TV9 Gujarati 125-130 40-50 3-5 3-7 ABP News-CVoter 33-41 24-32 0 0-4 TV9 Gujarati 33 31 0 4 India TV-Matrize 112-121 51-61 4-7 1-3 Zee News-BARC 110-125 45-60 1-5 0-4 India TV-Matrize 35-40 26-31 0 0-3 Zee News-BARC 35-40 20-25 0-3 1-5 News 24-Today’s Chanakya 150 19 11 2 Poll of exit polls 132 38 8 4 News 24-Today’s Chanakya 33 33 0 2 Poll of exit polls 35 30 0 3 News X- Jan Ki Baat 34-51 6-13 1-2 Present position 111 63 00 News X- Jan Ki Baat 32-40 27-34 0 1-2 Present position 44 21 0 117-140 AAP to trounce BJP in Delhi local body polls A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE Bharatiya Janata Party’s 15-year rule at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to come to an end, with four exit polls predicting a clear win for the Aam Aadmi Party . After the recently completed delimitation exercise, the total number of MCD wards was reduced to 250 from 272. According to poll of polls, the AAP may win 154 of the 250 wards that were up for grabs. The party had got 48 in the last elections. The BJP, which currently has 181 seats, may find itself with just 84 this time, while the Congress’ tally may shrink to 7 from 27 (see table). SC’s EWS quota verdict violates equality code: DMK files review plea S h ru t i K akkar @ New Delhi Lalu’s kidney transplant successful RJD president Lalu Prasad, underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery at Singapore on Monday. He is conscious and responding, his family said TAMIL Nadu’s ruling DMK on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its November 7 verdict upholding the 10% quota granted to persons belong to economically weaker sections (EWS) in education and jobs. The quota was introduced by way of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. A five-judge SC bench had upheld the amendment by a 3:2 majority . Contending the verdict “legitimises discrimination”, the plea says all five judges held the amendment cannot be said to breach the basic structure of the Constitution, thereby overruling the landmark Indra Sawhney verdict. “...this is error apparent on NEM’s first cyclone on Dec 8; 13 TN dists on alert Fishers advised not to go into sea on Dec 7, 8 E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Chennai A low pressure area has formed over the south Andaman sea and will intensify into the first cyclonic storm of this northeast monsoon, nearing the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra coasts by the morning of December 8, the regional meteorological centre said on Monday. It is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain, with occasional extreme spells, in 13 TN districts, including Chennai, on Thursday . An orange alert has been sounded in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, The met office said squally wind with speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail off the TN-Pondy coast and over Gulf of Mannar on Dec 7 and become 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from Dec 8 evening to Dec 9. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea. Perambur, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam for Thursday. For Friday, an orange alert has been issued for Tiruvallur, Chennai, Villupuram, Kanchi, Tiruvannamalai,Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Chengalpattu and Salem. S Balachandran, deputy director general of meteorology, said the low pressure area will concentrate into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal by December 6 evening. It is Musician Lucky Ali alleges land grab by IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri’s family E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru WELL known singer Lucky Ali has alleged that his property at Kenchenahalli near Yelahanka in Bengaluru is being encroached upon by the land mafia, and has dragged the name of IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri and her family . However, the IAS officer’s brother-in-law Madhusudan Reddy has rebutted the allegations, claiming that the property belongs to him. The dispute is related to a three-acre land located at Kenchenahalli, which Lucky Ali, son of late Bollywood actor Mehmood Ali, claims is owned by a Trust, while Madhusudan says the property was purchased from Lucky Ali’s brother Mansoor M Ali in 2012. On Sunday night, Lucky Ali posted on Facebook that he had filed a complaint with the Director General & Inspector General of Police Praveen Sood. Stating that he is currently in Dubai for work and hence it was urgent, the singer stated that his farm, a Trust property, was being encroached upon by Sudhir and his brother Madhusudan, calling them part of “the Bangalore Land Mafia”. According to Ali, Madhusu- dan illegally entered his property with 35 people and a bulldozer and threatened his family recently. Ali then rushed to Amrutahalli police station where he was assured the issue would be resolved. But the police did not help, he alleged. Rubbishing the claim, Madhusudan insists the property belongs to him. “I own this property and she (Rohini) has nothing to do with this. Just because he (Ali) is a celebrity he , is trying to get public sympathy he said. ,” He also shared a copy of the FIR registered against Ali in Yelahanka New Town police station on November 30, booking them for trespass. likely to continue to move westnorthwestwards, intensify into a cyclonic storm and reach the southwest Bay of Bengal near north TN, Puducherry and south AP coasts by Thursday morning. “Heavy rains will begin December 7 and will intensify on December 8,” he said. Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist of SkyMet Weather Services, said, “It is likely to weaken into a deep depression at the time of landfall. After December 8 noon, rainfall would dissipate and moderate rain would occur.” He said this would be the last significant weather system this monsoon and decide if TN receives deficit or normal rainfall. Poll 126 BJP Simple majority CONG AAPOTH Aaj Tak-Axis My India 69-91 3-7 149-171 5-9 News X- Jan Ki Baat 70-92 04-07 159-175 01 Times Now-ETG 84-94 6-10 146-156 0-4 Zee News-BARC 82-94 8-14 134-146 14-19 Poll of polls 84 7 154 5 27 48 10 Present position 181 If the exit polls prove right, the AAP will have complete control over many sectors such as sanitation and garbage management, community services, public health, veterinary, primary education, property tax, advertisement, toll tax, licensing (health & trade), factory licensing, architecture & town planning, engineering, labour welfare, building, environmental management, remunerative projects, horticulture, engineering, land & estate, etc. Y es h i S e l i @ New Delhi Contending that the Supreme Court’s verdict affects a population of 133 crore, the DMK, in its review petition, has sought for an open court hearing. The party’s petition comes after its chief and TN CM MK Stalin met with all legislative party leaders in the state. P4 education and employment, and the importance of alleviating the same — the majority judges have not given any justification for excluding ST, SC & OBCs from the EWS reservation other than to say that they have already been given reservations...” “Impugned judgment approves exclusion and discrimination as it permits poor from ST, SC & OBC to be excluded from 10% reservation, when they too are economically backward and therefore it violates equality code,” it argues.  250 Total wards No change in Russian oil buy, says govt Party asks for open court hearing the face of the record since it directly overrules the judgment passed by the ninejudge constitution bench in Indra Sawhney versus Union of India 1992, which has authoritatively pronounced that reservations cannot be on the basis of the economic criteria and such interpretation was on the basis of Articles 14,15(1) and 16(1), not Articles 15(4) and 16(4) alone,” the plea says. “... after going in depth into how poverty prevents access to mcd polls England’s Jordan Henderson (Right) celebrates scoring the opening goal against Senegal with teammate Jude Bellingham on Sunday | AP Three lions roar England cruise past Senegal with a 3-0 win to enter the last 8 late on Sunday night. A look... Nervous start before flourish Gareth Southgate’s side survived a nervous start before Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane put Senegal to the sword before half-time. Bukayo Saka scored the third, but it was Bellingham’s work-rate and burgeoning quality in possession that allowed them to turn the tide Bellingham, the hero Just 19, Bellingham has emerged as England’s driving force. He is the first teenager to assist in a WC knockout since 1966. Just two years after he was playing in the English second tier with Birmingham, the teenager was totally unfazed against Senegal in the biggest game of his life Croatia beat japan in penalty shootout In another last 16 clash on Monday, Croatia beat Japan 4-2 in penalty shootout after both teams were level at 1-1 after extra time. Daezan Maeda opened Japan’s account in the 43rd minute before Ivan Perisiv equalled for Croatia in the 55th | P11 e x p r e ss r e a d Splintered AIADMK pays tribute to Jaya on anniv Chennai: On the sixth death anniversary of J Jayalalithaa on Monday, AIADMK leaders took a dig at each other. AIADMK’s Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, AMMK’s TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala paid homage separately at her memorial at the Marina| P4 Four killed, 3 critical after bus-truck crash Chennai: Four people were killed and three critically injured after a Hyderabad-Chennai bus crashed into a truck in Tiruvallur district around 4 am on Monday. The accident occurred as a tyre of the truck burst. The private bus, with 30 passengers, was heading towards Koyambedu On a day the G7-European Union price cap of $60 a barrel of Russian oil moving by sea kicked in, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar indicated India was firm in its policy on sourcing oil from Russia. Showing Europe the mirror, Jaishankar pointed out that since February 24 — the day the Ukraine war began — till November 17, the European Union had imported more fossil fuel from Russia than the next 10 countries combined. “We need to establish the fact that the oil imports of EU are six times that of what India imports. We need to have an understanding that oil is a finite energy solution. A lot of countries from E u r o p e h ave turned to Middle East for their fuel as a result of which their prices have shot up. This puts a pressure on India and we need to buy from wherever it is viable,” Jaishankar said on Monday, after signing a Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock. He also suggested a reality check by looking at the Russian fossil tracker website, which would give clarity on the countries that continue to import oil from Russia whilst urging others not to do so. He reiterated that India stands for peace and wants the war to end through talks and negotiations. a s f a t e h a ngs i n S c Swims, walks & cooling aloe: Jallikattu training on M S T h anara j @ Madurai A bull-owner with his Jallikattu bull in Madurai| KK Sundar ‘Train well, get a chance in main event’ “Senior bull tamers train the younger lot in a Vaadivasal-like structure about how to handle the bulls and how to approach the pouncing bull at the Vaadivasal. Those who do well during training will get to take part in the event,” bull tamer A Karthikeyan told TNIE | P4 Madurai’s Jallikattu arenas are set to come alive with pouncing bulls and atheletic tamers in just about a month. Though the bull-taming sport is under a legal cloud, this has not dulled preparation, with bull owners and tamers counting down to Pongal when the most popular events are held at Madurai’s Alanganallur, Avaniyapuram and Palamedu. Bulls and tamers across the district are currently on a strict regimen of diet and exercise while training for the events. Although some enthusiasts raised concerns over the ongoing case in the Supreme Court, they hope for a smooth season. “We take part in the Alanganallur Jallikattu and start training our bulls 60 days ahead. This includes providing the bull with a nutritious diet and feeding it foods like aloe vera to keep its body cooler,” Mudakathan Mani, a bull-owner from Madurai, told TNIE. The bulls get daily walks and go swimming once every two to three days. Bulls are also be given Vaadivasal training. Durai Pandi, a bull-owner from Madurai, said, “I have been rearing native breed bulls for Jallikattu and Vada Manjuvirattu for over a decade. We give them additional training for the Vada Manjuvirattu, along with a special diet, to increase strength and stamina.”