tirupati l monday l november 17, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l anantapur EDITION Trump’s Gaza peace plan faces crucial vote today at UNSC The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will vote on Monday on a resolution endorsing US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan ‘No’ vote equals support for Hamas: U.S. Draft mentions future Palestinian state ■ The draft backs Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, which proposes the creation of a Board of Peace under his leadership and a stabilisation force. It mentions a possible future Palestinian state ■ Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the opposition to a Palestinian state The US last week began negotiations within the 15-member Security Council on a draft resolution. “Any refusal to back this resolution is a vote either for the continued reign of Hamas terrorists or for a return to war with Israel, condemning the region and its people to perpetual conflict,” US ambassador to UN Mike Waltz wrote in The Washington Post | P11 5 pm local time on monday is when the UNSC will vote on U.S. resolution 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 NDA firms up formula for Bihar govt formation BJP expected to get 15-16 ministers, JD(U) 14 and LJP(RV) 3; buzz on one of the two deputy CM posts going to LJP(RV) Three more daughters move out of Lalu’s family r a m a s h a n k a r @ Patna BIHAR Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday held a series of meetings with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders at his official residence in Patna to discuss the formation of a new government after the ruling alliance secured a three-fourth majority, winning 202 out of 243 seats, in the Assembly elections. Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha were among those who met Nitish. Earlier, he convened discussions with senior JD(U) leaders and all newly elected MLAs. JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh also attended. Sources said the NDA would follow the same formula for portfolio allocation as it did for ticket distribution. Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) will retain the Chief Minister’s post, while the BJP and Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) are likely to get one Deputy CM each. As per the cabinet-sharing formula, the BJP is expected to get 15-16 ministerial berths, the JD(U) around 14, the LJP (RV) three, and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM one each. “During the tick- said, “Yesterday’s incident has shaken me to the core. What hapTHE turbulence within the Rash- pened to my sister is unbearatriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) first ble.” Without naming anyone, he family deepened on Sunday, a accused “new faces” of clouding day after Lalu Prasad’s daughter Tejashwi Yadav’s judgment and Rohini Acharya announced her warned that the consequences of decision to quit politics “this injustice will be and sever ties with her grave.” RJD review family . “I urge my father to meeting today What began as a sinintervene for the famigle outburst has now RJD has convened ly’s honour,” he said. a meeting of its snowballed into a fullNeither Tejashwi newly elected blown family crisis. nor his advisor, RJD MLAs and senior Three more of Lalu’s MP Sanjay Yadav, has daughters—Rajlaksh- leaders on Monday responded to Rohini’s mi, Ragini and Chan- to analyse its poll alle gations linking result. “The da—left the family’s 10, them to the family’s Circular Road resi- leaders will discuss discord. RJD managed party’s poor dence in Patna early just 25 seats in the reperformance in Monday, taking their cent Assembly polls. polls,” said RJD’s children and flying to Rohini, who contestChitranjan Delhi. Sources said ed the 2024 Lok Sabha Gagan | P10 their departure reflectpolls from Saran, aled growing distress leged harassment and over the recent turmoil. threats from Sanjay Yadav and On Sunday, Tej Pratap Yadav, his associate Rameez. With Rawho heads the newly launched jlakshmi, Ragini, and Chanda’s Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), is- exit, only Lalu, Rabri Devi, and sued an emotional appeal to his Misa Bharti remain at the family father and a veiled warning to home, which was once the nerve those he termed “traitors.” He centre of RJD’s politics. r a m a s h a n k a r @ Patna BJP supporters celebrate NDA’s victory in the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, in Patna, on Sunday | PTI et distribution, for every MP, an NDA partner was given five-six assembly seats. So, it is likely that the same formula may be in place for cabinet berths,” said a senior BJP leader. With 85 MLAs, the JD(U) could secure 14 berths besides the CM post. Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha is likely to be replaced by LJP (RV) state president Raju Tiwari, elected from Govindganj, while former Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav, who won from Danapur, is being considered for the same post from the BJP’s side. In the recently-concluded Assembly election, the NDA swept aside the Mahagathbandhan, with BJP emerging as the singlelargest party, winning 89 seats. JD(U) followed with 85, LJP (RV) 19, HAM five, and RLM four. The RJD-led combine could muster only 35 seats. The JD(U) has instructed all its MLAs to remain in Patna from Monday onwards. Nitish is expected to recommend dissolution of the current cabinet on Monday before submitting his resignation to the Governor. This could be followed by the NDA meeting, sources said. Nitish could take oath as Chief Minister for a record tenth time on Wednesday or Thursday depend, ing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s availability . Preparations for the oath ceremony have begun at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.  P10 Now, AP lays emphasis on realising MoUs signed S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada After succeeding in attracting `13.25 lakh crore investments at the 30th CII Partnership Summit held in Visakhapatnam on November 14 and 15, the Andhra Pradesh government has laid emphasis on grounding projects signed at the earliest as they are expected to generate 16.31 lakh jobs. The government, which set a target of attracting investments to the tune of `10 lakh crore during the CII Partnership Summit, has achieved 30% more by highlighting the growth potential of AP . While Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is optimistic that majority of the 613 MoUs signed will be realised at the earliest, sources say grounding of at least 50% of P3 the projects is certain. Cong wakes up to SIR concerns after Bihar rout, calls meeting P REETHA NAIR @ New Delhi WEEKS after the Election Commission launched the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and UTs, including poll-bound Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry , the Congress has called a review meeting of party functionaries from all regions where the revision process is underway . A senior party leader said the meeting, involving AICC incharges, Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs, Congress Legislature Par ty leaders, and secretaries of the 12 States and UTs, will be held at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday . The meeting is expected to as- Pic: PTI sess ground reports submitted by state units and prepare a unified response to SIR. On October 27, the ECI rolled out the second phase of the SIR, expected to cover nearly 51 crore voters across 12 states and UTs. The initiative has sparked political unease in opposition-ruled states. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala have escalated their objections to the move, with some even exploring legal options. Constitution of India is a living document: CJI E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Vijayawada Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai emphasised that the Indian Constitution was deliberately designed as a ‘living document’, capable of evolving with changing times, and societal needs. The CJI delivered the keynote address at a special programme ‘India and the Living Indian Constitution at 75 Years’ organised by the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates’ Association in Mangalagiri on Sunday . The CJI said Article 368 was incorporated precisely to allow amendments, and ensure the Constitution remains dynamic rather than rigid. The principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution, empower every citizen. “It is because of these fundamental rights that a tea seller like Narendra Modi could become the Prime Minister, and I, coming from a remote region of Maharashtra, could rise to become the Chief Justice of India, and N Chandrababu Naidu could become the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,” he said. As reported by this paper, despite being the primary opposition party the Congress had not , convened a joint meeting or crafted a coordinated strategy with its alliance partners on SIR. The Congress’s renewed push comes in the aftermath of the Bihar debacle. The move also signals its intent to step up the ‘vote theft’ pitch as the Bihar rout has intensified concerns within the ranks over organisational shortcomings and voter-list issues, and alliance coordination. The November 18 meeting is expected to review discrepancies flagged by state units, evaluate PCCs’ preparedness to monitor SIR rollout, and explore coordination mechanisms with other INDIA bloc partners. 1ST ARREST by NIA IN rED FORT BOMB BLAST CASE The National Investigation Agency has arrested Amir Rashid Ali, in whose name the car used in the blast was registered. He allegedly conspired with Dr Umar Nabi to carry out the attack | P9 Int’l air cargo services resume at Vizag Airport U s h a P e r i @ Visakhapatnam South Africa players celebrate their win over India in the first Test at Kolkata on Sunday | sayantan ghosh for gambhir and co, it’s pitch dark at home S w a r o o p s w a m i n at h a n @ Kolkata EVEN before the presentation ceremony was over, the ground staff at the Eden Gardens, as if to carry out a meta joke, watered the square. With natural light dying, the 22 yards was properly bathed, a dark sheen shimmering in the distance. It was the first time the strip had been hydrated since last Saturday, over a week ago. You can draw a straight line between the Indian team’s decision to not water the pitch to losing a fourth Test in eight home games since Gautam Gambhir was appointed to the post last year (decisions like not watering the strip are usually made by the leadership group, something that happened in Kolkata as well). “This (the pitch) is what we wanted,” Gambhir after the match. “This is what we got.” With the ball misbehaving from as early as the first over on Day 1, both teams knew they were in for a dogfight. India have flippedflopped on the kind of pitches they want but it had seemed like they were going away from this model. However, Sunday was a sharp reminder of how spectacularly it can backfire. So, why did the Indian team go back to a designer surface for the visit of South Africa after playing on two typical sub-conti- nental decks against West Indies? Was it because of the stakes of WTC points? Was it because of their somewhat inexperienced batting line-up? Was it to take the toss out of the equation even if they have lost on these tracks after losing the toss? Gambhir defended the pitch by saying the batters should be able to absorb pressure. He called it more mental than skill. But after a point, survival is nigh on impossible. And that is no way for the game to be played. With less than one week to regroup — the next Test starts in Guwahati on Saturday — how will the team management dig themselves out of a hole of their own choosing?  P13 International air cargo operations resumed at Visakhapatnam Airport on Friday marking , the end of suspension that had been in place since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu during the 30th CII Partnership Summit in the city . “The resumption of services is expected to reduce logistical difficulties for exporters in and around Visakhapatnam. Until now, companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, textiles, and other manufacturing units operating from the Phar ma SEZ, AP MedTech Zone (AMTZ), Textile Park, and the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ) had to move their cargo through airports in Hyderabad or Chennai. The detour increased transportation costs, and led to longer shipment timelines,” said Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Association (APATA) members K Kumar Raja, DS Varma, and O Naresh Kumar. Industry representatives say the restart will help streamline export operations by providing a direct cargo movement option P3 from the region. Great People’s March Calling it a coincidence that both his birthplace, and his last public event as the CJI happened to be in ‘Amaravati’, Justice Gavai highlighted the Directive Principles, which aim to ensure social and economic justice. “Every citizen has the right to approach court if his fundamental rights are violated,” he said. The CJI mentioned that the first Constitutional amendment related to reservations, stemmed from early conflicts. Referring to the Supreme Court’s landmark Kesavananda Bharati judgment, he said the case had established the basic structure, which ensures core constitutional princiP3 ples are not amended. Colour and song return to climate talks in Brazil S O U MYA S ARKAR @ Belém (Brazil) The gypsies invariably brought colour and magic to the grey city of Macondo in One Hundred Years of Solitude. Belém is no Macondo living in isolation and innocence, neither are the indigenous people and climate activists who joined the “Great People’s March”on Saturday at halfway point of the UN climate summit the wandering Roma. But the tens of thousands marching through the streets of the Amazonian host city demanding climate action did splash a vi- brant palette of colours and added song and dance to the otherwise grey proceedings at the conference venue of Parque da Cidade. Through the late mor ning hours, the procession stretched for kilometres—a river of red, white, yellow and green flags flowing past watching crowds leaning from balconies to capture the spectacle on their phones. The streets pulsed with drumbeats and chants as protest transformed into celebration, grief into performance. In the most gothic part of the procession, demonstrators carried enormous coffins marked for oil, coal and gas. A 30-metre inflatable serpent wound through the marchers, an enormous anaconda symbolising the sacred and iconic Amazonian creature. A giant balloon painted as Earth bobbed on the streets while sound systems on trucks blared everything from Brazilian samba to socialist anthems. The joy was deliberate, the defiance unmistakable. This was the first major protest outside UN climate talks since Glasgow four years ago. The last three summits —held in autocratic Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan—offered no such freecontinued on: p9 dom.  A demonstration during the ‘Great People’s March’ in Belém, Brazil on Saturday | Soumya Sarkar