Moscow Belarus Russia kyiv ukraine Explosion in the area of the Engels air base Romania vijayawada l tuesday l december 6, 2022 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Mysterious blasts hit two Russian military air bases Fuel truck exploded at an air base in Ryazan 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 ■ 70 Moscow blames Kyiv for explosions ■ 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’s defence ministry said its forces shot down Ukrainian drones and their debris caused the explosions | P9 Missiles were fired by Moscow against Ukraine on Monday 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 r ee t h a N a i r @ 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 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 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 4 News 24-Today’s Chanakya 33 33 0 2 Poll of exit polls 35 30 0 3 News X- Jan Ki Baat 32-40 27-34 0 1-2 Present position 44 21 0 51-61 News 24-Today’s Chanakya 150 19 11 2 Poll of exit polls 132 38 8 News X- Jan Ki Baat 34-51 6-13 1-2 Present position 111 63 00 117-140 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 . According to poll of exit polls, 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 has 181 seats, may find itself with just 84 this time, while the Congress’ tally may shrink to 7 from 27 (see table). If the exit polls prove right, the AAP will have complete control over many sectors such as sanitation and garbage man- Rayalaseema Garjana in Kurnool boosts demand for three capitals E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kurnool Lalu’s Throwing the guantlet at TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, YSRC leader and Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy on Monday demanded that the former explain to the people reasons for his opposition to shifting the high court to Kurnool, and in the same breath, announced the State government’s inten- tion to build the court building at Jagannadha Gattu in such a way that “it could be visible from even 10 km away .” He was speaking at the Rayalaseema Garjana organised by the region’s non-political joint action committee at the STBC grounds here in support of three capitals for the State. “Chandrababu Naidu must explain why he is opposed to having the high court in Kur- 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 nool. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy strongly believes decentralisation ensures balanced development of all the regions.. which is why he announced Kurnool as the judicial capital of the state,” he said. The Rayalaseema Garjana, which resembled the Visakha Garjana that was held recently , drew thousands of people from different parts of the region. The YSRC, which is backing the non-political JACs of both Uttarandhra and Rayalaseema, sent its big guns from Rayalaseema to the meeting. Seeking to put Naidu in a cleft-stick, Buggana taunted the former chief minister, pointing out that he could not make Kuppam, his home turf, a revenue division despite being in power for a long time.  P4 Reps of firms appear before ED in APSSDC scam E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Representatives of four companies, against whom notices were issued in the alleged AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) scam, reportedly appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad on Monday The . ED had reportedly issued notices to 26 individuals and companies to probe alleged money laundering and tax evasion in APSSDC. According to sources, representatives from four respondent companies - SIEMENS India Private Limited, Design Tech Systems Pvt Ltd, Patrick Info Services Pvt Ltd and IT Smith Solutions Pvt Ltd - reportedly appeared before the ED. As part of the probe, the officials are said to have quizzed the representatives on various issues and reportedly collected crucial information from them over the financial transactions between the government and the private companies involved in the skill development project to set up training institutions for unemployed youth in Andhra Pradesh. S o u r c e s s a i d ED sleuths asked the representatives to provide previous bills and invoices to ascertain the total amount transferred to alleged shell companies. The remaining respondents may be appearing before ED officials in a couple of days ac- evidence against naidu, son: sajjala YSRC general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the involvement of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh was evident in the scam. “As it has become clear that Naidu and Lokesh are involved, they are tight-lipped,” he alleged Musician Lucky Ali alleges land grab by IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri’s family E XPR E SS N E WS S E RVIC 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 is 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 the Ali brothers in Yelahanka police station on November 30, booking them for trespass. cording to the dates mentioned in the notices. It may be recalled that the AP CID, based on a complaint from the present chairman of Skill Development Corporation K Ajay Reddy is investigating the , APSSDC scam which reportedly caused a loss of `241 crore to the government exchequer. Meanwhile, YSRC general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the involvement of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh was evident in the scam. “As it has become clear that Naidu and Lokesh are involved, they are tight-lipped. Otherwise, they would have raised a hue and cry he said. ,” mcd polls 250 Total wards 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 agement, 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. After the recently completed delimitation exercise, the total number of MCD wards was reduced to 250 from 272. No change in Russian oil buy, says govt Y e s h i Se l i @ New Delhi Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic makes a save during penalty shootout against Japan in Doha on Monday | AP dominik the saviour goalkeeper dominik livakovic saved three penalties against Japan to take croatia to last 8 on Monday extra time drama ends in penalties Croatia beat Japan on penalties to reach the World Cup quarterfinals after a 1-1 draw in their last-16 clash on Monday. Daizen Maeda gave Japan a half-time lead and Ivan Perisic headed home an equaliser. Despite both teams pressing for a goal in extra time, match ended at 1-1 livakovic saves three penalties Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitomo and Maya Yoshida. Japan had been looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time but fell short again, just like in 2002, 2010 and 2018. For Croatia, this was their third shoot-out win in two WCs Bellingham, the hero in english tale England 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 | P11 express read Woman’s body found in sealed drum, one held Visakhapatnam: A woman’s body was found wrapped in an air-tight plastic cover in a sealed drum at a house in Vikalangula Colony in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. It is suspected that the woman might have been murdered over a yearand-a-half ago. One suspect has been taken into custody Jilted lover murders girl, attempts suicide Guntur: A jilted lover allegedly murdered a girl and attempted suicide at Takkellapadu village in Pedakakani mandal on Monday. The deceased was identified as Tapaswi (20) of Krishnapuram in Vuyyur mandal of Krishna district. The accused, Gnaneswar, was handed over to police 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. timely message President teaches value of empathy to students E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Tirupati President Droupadi Murmu on Monday appealed to parents to stop differentiating between a son and a daughter and provide equal opportunities to both genders. Interacting with women selfhelp groups, achievers, faculty and students of Sri Padmavati Mahila Visva Vidayalam here, she pointed out that countries, where women are working at t h e f o r e f r o n t , a r e we l l developed. Talking about the role of SHGs in empowering women, Murmu praised them, saying SHG women run families, educate their children and even President Droupadi Murmu during an interaction with students and faculty of Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visva Vidyalayam in Tirupati on Monday | Express take part in ag ricultural activities. “The SHG women community groups are formed to complete tasks, which cannot be achieved by a single woman due to fear or other factors. Such works could be achieved by women when they come together and work as a group... breaking the fear factor among women through SHGs,” Murmu said. The President had a word of advice for students. Emphasing the need for empathy, she felt, “it is important for us as we step ahead to look back and see how many are lagging behind and extend a hand to ensure P4 they also progress.”