hyderabad l thursday l november 06, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late CITY EDITION Pant checks in, shami ignored for tests against South Africa Rishabh Pant Delhi keeper-batter passes fitness test Rishabh Pant made comeback into India’s Test squad for two-match series against SA. However, Mohammed Shami has been ignored once again akash deep in, prasidh krishna out India’s wicketkeeper batter Pant was an automatic choice after recovering from a foot fracture sustained during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July. He missed the West Indies series but led India A team against South Africa A. Shami, who has had a creditable Ranji campaign as of now, has been overlooked again ■ ■ Pacer Akash Deep Singh recovered from shoulder injury and has been picked but Prasidh Krishna’s name has been dropped India’s pace attack features Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd Siraj while the spin will be led by veteran Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Washington Sundar. Shubman Gill is captain | P13 Two India will play two tests against SA in Kolkata, GUwahatI 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 Arrest me if you can, says KTR as CM turns up the heat on BJP In the home straight, rhetoric & rebuttals become hallmark of the campaign E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad All set Security personnel carrying election materials ahead of the first phase of Bihar polls, in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday | PTI Stillness of the discerning in Bihar B ihar has never been short of noise. Certainly not when it mattered. Its politics has marched through history with a daring swagger — JP’s call that shook New Delhi, Mandal’s churn that redrafted power, the long years of Lalu raj that jolted the old order. Even the subtler Nitish era made bold strokes on the canvas, turning India’s polity yet again with the caste census narrative and grand alliance politics. Yet this election arrives on soft feet. On November 5, the campaign for the first stretch of 121 constituencies is winding down, and the battle for the remaining 122 — those border districts where sentiment often travels across rivers and frontiers — will begin soon. And through it all, there hangs a curious quiet. Whether in Nitish Kumar’s native Bakhtiyarpur, or hamlets like Gauspur and Chitapur fringing Patna, whether in Dalit ‘tolas’ where caste is still geo-tagged or along the mobile 100-km sweep to Gaya on NH-22, out in villages like Barachati and Tekari near where a legend named Dashrath Manjhi once moved mountains, the stillness is audible. Even in places like Mokama where bullets flew the other day or Barh, , which saw fisticuffs after this writer left, the action is all on one slim band where politics does its business. The people santwana seem unmoved. Almost cold. bhattacharya This is not indifference. It is Editor an extended pause — a thinking state, perhaps it’s the hush of crores of people thinking harder. The old Bihar election grammar is still here: the woven caste alliances, the search for the right symbol atop the right community the deft stitch, ing of booth workers and social equations. But listen closely, and the dialogues are shifting pitch. It is no longer enough to promise representation; people want opportunity Bihar’s young . — impatient, painfully aware of the ticket-to-life stamped “migration” that’s been their lot for years, and now uniformly literate about the ways of the world beyond their panchayat WhatsApp group — are asking sharper questions. Identity of the other sort has not dissolved; only its fabric has thinned in the face of this new common identity, an identity of experience. Numbers are never incidental here. OBCs and EBCs together form roughly two-thirds of Bihar — a demographic truth that still underwrites strategy Yadavs remain the single biggest OBC . bloc, Kurmis and Kushwahas count in pockets where one village’s mood can bend a seat, Dalits and Mahadalits together hold a weight politicians can never ignore, and the elite castes — though numerically modest — continue to influence candidate choice and the political discourse, particularly in the plains.  Continued on: P10 BJP ‘stole’ Haryana poll with 25 lakh fake votes, Bihar next target: Rahul PREET H A N AIR @ New Delhi Notwithstanding the rebuttals from Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and BRS working president KT Rama Rao during the course of the day, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday continued his relentless attack on the BRS and BJP, accusing them of working together to thwart his government’s attempts to ensure justice is served in the scams committed by the previous regime. The result was a three-way slugfest, with KT Rama Rao and Kishan returning fire at Revanth. This has effectively led to what began as a street-corner broadside from the chief minister spiralling into a fullblown political dogfight, with each camp trying harder to prove the other’s “secret friendship”. Responding to Kishan’s rebuttal on Wednesday, Revanth said that the BJP leader should talk to his “elders” — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah — over the registration of an FIR against KCR in the Kaleshwaram irregularities case. Earlier in the day Rama Rao led the , counterattack, dismissing Revanth’s remarks made on Tuesday as “ignorant” and daring him to “come and arrest me if you have guts”. The BRS If you (KTR) stand true to your challenge, then get ready to resign since Cantonment MLA Sri Ganesh has already shown the GO sanctioning over `4,000 crore. But you always backtrack on your challenges Arrest me if you can. The govt sought the Governor’s consent to prosecute me. The Governor granted permission and a charge sheet was filed. Once a charge sheet is filed, there is no need to seek permission again Neither the Centre nor the BJP said that they will send KCR to jail. The Centre will not interfere in legal matters. It won’t interfere in matters like arrests and sending people to jail. Those powers are entrusted with the courts A Revanth Reddy, chief minister KT Rama Rao, former minister Kishan Reddy, Union minister leader asserted that the Governor had already permitted prosecution in the Formula E race case and that a chargesheet was filed. Kishan sought to cool the rhetoric, saying the Union government never promised to “jail KCR” and had no role in arrests or judicial processes. On Revanth’s charge that the Centre was influencing Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to stall Rama Rao’s prosecution, Kishan coun- tered that the Governor was “acting within his constitutional powers” and that there was “no political interference”. The twin rebuttals came a day after Revanth accused the BJP-led Union government of shielding BRS leaders and claimed that the Kaleshwaram probe was being deliberately delayed. He alleged the BJP was planning to transfer its votes to the BRS in the byelection. Americans of Indian origin make major political gains H a p r e e t B a j w a @ Chandigarh National pride Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the victorious ICC Women’s World Cup team in New Delhi on Wednesday | PTI E x pre s s R ea d Four friends die US Supreme Court in car collision sceptical of tariffs Sangareddy: A spiritual trip to Ganagapur for Karthika Pournami turned fatal for four friends from Jagannathpur and Elgoi villages when their car collided with another vehicle on Wednesday morning about 80 kilometres from Narayankhed. Driver Naveen (30) — the only breadwinner in the family — Biradar Rajappa (45) and Nagaraju (40) died on the spot while Kashinath succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Their friend, Pratap, a journalist, survived | P2 Washington DC: US President Trump’s global tariffs appeared to be on shaky ground after Supreme Court justices expressed scepticism during a hearing on Wednesday about his authority to impose sweeping measures on countries around the world. The Trump administration’s top lawyer faced sharp questioning during arguments with even conservative justices asking Solicitor General John Sauer to explain why the IEEPA text didn’t explicitly mention tariffs, and if Congress has conferred the power to Trump to tariff and tax. In an extraordinary moment for diversity in American politics, three Indian-origin Americans carved history across key states signalling a possible new era in the United States. Zohran Mamdani became the first Indian-American and Muslim to be elected Mayor of New York City, Ghazala Hashmi was chosen as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and Aftab Pureval secured a second term as Mayor of Cincinnati. Together, their victories mark a milestone in the growing political influence of South Asian Americans. At just 34, Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s stunning win has made him New York City’s youngest mayor in over a 100 years and the first of Indian heritage to hold the post. Mamdani triumphed over two formidable opponents, former governor Andrew Cuomo, contesting as an independent with the backing of President Donald Trump, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. With 83% of votes counted, Mamdani secured 948,202 votes (50.6%), while Cuomo managed 776,547 (41.3%). The city saw a record turnout of nearly two million votes. Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York at the age of seven. His mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, and father, Columbia University B o o s t f o r b l u e ec o n o m y Net cast to catch unsustainable fishing practices J i t e n d r a Ch o u b e y @ New Delhi The Centre has issued a notification to promote the sustainable exploitation of fisheries within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The newly introduced rules, titled ‘Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025’, focus on licensing, registration, and scientific monitoring of fishing activities in the EEZ. They seek to encourage sustainable mariculture, including seaweed cultiva- “We have crystal-clear proof that 25 lakh voters in Haryana Leader of Opposition Rahul are fake, that they either don’t Gandhi on Wednesday accused exist, are duplicates, or were the Election Commission of designed in a way that allows India of colluding with the anybody to vote. One in eight BJP to ‘steal’ the 2024 Haryana voters in Haryana is fake, elections in the saffron party’s that’s 12.5%,” he said. favour and claimed To substantiate the same sinister his claim, he cited plan will be used in the example of a Bihar to ensure the woman who apBJP’s victory . peared 223 times on Addressing a the voter list. He press conference at also showed the the AICC headphoto of another quarters here on woman, which he We d n e s d ay, t h e SIR: Integrity of claimed was a BraCongress leader alzilian, saying it appoll main issue leged that 25 lakh peared 22 times unOn INDIA bloc’s votes were ‘stolen’ der different names strategy to protest in Haryana through in 10 booths. 5.21 lakh duplicate against SIR, Rahul said “This is proof of the “integrity of the votes, 93,174 invalid a centralised operaelection” is the addresses, and 19.26 tion. What is a Brafundamental issue lakh bulk voters. zilian person doing Haryana has a total on the voters’ list of two crore voters. in Haryana?” he asked. “I am confident that after the Responding to the allegaBihar poll, we will make a pres- tions, Election Commission ofentation that the same thing ficials said the vote manipulahappened in Bihar,” he said, tion charge is unfounded as no adding political parties are un- appeals were filed against Harable to check the ‘vote theft’ as yana electoral rolls, nor was they are provided with the vot- any multiple voting flagged er list at the last moment. when it allegedly happened. 200 Nautical miles from a country’s coast is the extent of EEZ. It grants countries the right to exploit resources tion, reduce fishing pressure, create new livelihood opportunities, and enhance overall marine production. The rules recognise Fisheries Cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) as key stakeholders in managing the EEZ. In addition, the government will provide training and capacity-building for traditional and small-scale fishers, including fisheries cooperatives and SelfHelp Groups. Trained and registered fisherfolk entities, such as SHGs and FFPOs, will be eligible to obtain licences through the government’s ReALCRaft portal, ensuring greater participation of organised fishing communities in offshore resource management. Finally the rules lay down guide, lines for issuing health certificates for catches in line with relevant national and international regulations. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (2nd from right), with wife Rama Duwaji (2nd from left), father Mahmood Mamdani and mother Mira Nair in New York on Tuesday | AP Hyd-born Ghazala is Revanth, KTR hail Virginia Lt. Governor Hashmi’s achievement New York: Hyderabad-born Ghazala Hashmi has been elected as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian American to be elected to the top political post in the state. Hashmi, 61, a Democrat secured 1,465,634 votes (54.2%), way ahead of her Republican rival John Reid. Hashmi, born in Hyderabad in 1964, was four years old when she emigrated to the US with her mother and older brother, joining her father. Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday congratulated Ghazala Hashmi on her election as the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in the US local elections. The chief minister conveyed his best wishes to her for continued success. BRS working president KT Rama Rao said, “This is massive! From Malakpet to Virginia. Congratulations to Ghazala Hashmi. There is nothing more beautiful than when democracies celebrate diversity of the world.” scholar Mahmood Mamdani, have long been symbols of cultural and intellectual achievement. Mamdani called his win a “mandate for change,” thanking his parents and wife, SyrianAmerican artist Rama Duwaji. His campaign centered on reducing living costs, expanding housing, and improving public transport— continuation of his record in Queens, where he introduced a pilot programme for free city buses.  ontinued on: P11 C Chutney spilled, minor, 3 pals kill man E x p r e ss N e ws S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad A 45-year-old labourer was allegedly killed by four youths, one of them a minor, following a quarrel over a spilled chutney at Nacharam in the early hours of Monday The victim, Murali . Krishna, a resident of Kalyanipuram in Uppal, is survived by his wife and seven-year-old daughter. Police on Tuesday identified the three adult accused as Md Junaid alias Jaffer (18), Sheikh Saifuddin (18) and Ponna Manikanta (21), while the juvenile is aged 16. All four have report- edly confessed to their involvement in the crime. According to Nacharam police, Murali Krishna had gone to his brother’s house in Jillelaguda, Saroornagar, on November 2. While returning home to Uppal late that night, he was offered a lift near LB Nagar by the four accused in their car. The group stopped for tiffin near NGRI, where an argument broke out after Murali Krishna accidentally spilled chutney on one of the youths. The dispute turned violent, and the accused allegedly assaulted and stabbed him inside the car. Though severely injured, Murali Krishna managed to exit the car before collapsing on the roadside. Locals noticed him and alerted “108”. Paramedics who arrived at the scene declared him dead. The group later tried to destroy evidence, including the knife and their blood-stained clothes. Police have recovered the car used in the crime, along with other material evidence. “This was a heinous crime committed by a group of youths,” inspector K Dhanunjay said, adding that swift investigation led to the arrest of the accused.