HYDERABAD l Monday l November 17, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l LATE CITY 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. 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 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 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 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Describing them as “guru and shishya”, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday expressed confidence that N Chandrababu Naidu and A Revanth Reddy will be able to settle outstanding matters between AP and Telangana. “It is a matter of a few meetings. With a few meetings, the issues will be resolved. Both CMs are guru and shishya. Both states will grow together and contribute to Viksit Bharat,” he said. Responding to Revanth’s reference to former vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, Radhakrishnan said: “Revanth Reddy noted that Venkaiah Naidu played a key role in resolving issues when he was vice-president and asked for my help now. In his speech, Revanth Reddy said ‘Peddalu Chandrababu Garu’, which shows that every issue will be settled. It is only a dispute within a family .” Cabinet expansion, reshuffle likely before December 9 Man abducted, burnt alive in suspected honour killing I r e d d y S r i n i v a s Re d d y @ Hyderabad S i d d h a r d h a G at t i m i @ Hyderabad A 39-year-old man was kidnapped and burnt alive at Yerrampally village in Farooqnagar mandal of Rangareddy district, in a suspected honour killing. The incident came to light on Sunday after the victim’s wife identified the charred remains as those of Yerra Rajashekar. Police suspect the killing was planned by K Venkatesh, father of a 19-year-old woman who had recently eloped with and married 27-year-old Yerra Chandrashekar, the victim’s younger brother. The couple had faced days of tension over their inter-caste marriage; the woman is from a BC community while Chandrashekar is said , to belong to a Scheduled Caste. According to the family, Venkatesh and his associates arrived at the victim’s home around 10.15 pm on Wednesday. One of them allegedly posed as a constable and asked Rajashekar to accompany them. Rajashekar went with them and did not return. His wife filed a complaint about 30 minutes later. Police traced his mobile phone initially, but the signal was lost after the device was allegedly discarded near a bypass road. Police suspect the group took Rajashekar to the outskirts of the village, assaulted him with sticks, poured fuel on him and set him on fire. His body was found on Saturday afternoon after police received information and alerted the family for identification. The remains were sent for postmortem. A case has been registered, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest all those involved. Rajashekar’s father, Mallesh, said Venkatesh had first opposed the marriage, claiming his daughter was a minor. “On October 9, Venkatesh refused the marriage saying his daughter was underage. A month later, she contacted Chandrashekar, said she was 19 and had proof, and asked him to take her. They went to Nizamabad and got married. Venkatesh believed Rajashekar helped them and held a deep grudge against him,” Mallesh said. Naidu–Revanth ties will ease inter-state issues: V-P 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 flipped-flopped 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-continental 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 pitch perfect Revanth vs Messi? Fans perk up E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad If plans fall into place, Hyderabad may witness an unexpected sporting moment in December: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy sharing the football pitch with Lionel Messi. TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud hinted that the chief minister could feature in a friendly match during Messi’s “GOAT India Tour 2025”, a suggestion that sent football fans into delirium as they hoped to witness the legend taking the field. At the valedictory of the All India Open Championship-2025 President’s Cup, organised by the Karate Federation of Shotokan India in Saroornagar, Mahesh said Messi’s visit “could open the door for a match involving the chief minister, if arrangements come together.” Revanth’s long-standing interest in football gives the TPCC chief ’s hints a degree of plausibility . Mahesh said the state government aims to build Telangana into a reliable venue for major sporting events, adding that karate has shaped his own approach to fitness. He added that the chief minister has been supportive of sports bodies and is looking to widen opportunities for athletes across the state. Later, at the NSN Karate League 2025 in Gachibowli, where he was chief guest, Mahesh observed that karate has grown across the Telugu states and said regular competitions would help athletes move towards national and international standards. With the Jubilee Hills byelection now past and the Congress government on the verge of completing two years in office, a major reshuffle in the state Cabinet appears imminent. Senior Congress leaders said a proposal for Cabinet expansion and reshuffle has been sent to the party high command by the state leadership and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The plan suggests inductLikely to be ing four or five new members and dropped removing three or four current ministers. Portfolios of existing n  Komatireddy ministers may also be reassigned. Venkat Reddy The proposal has been submitn  Ponnam Prabhakar ted to AICC president Mallikarjun (may head the TPCC) Kharge and former AICC presin  Jupally Krishna Rao dent Rahul Gandhi for approval. n  Konda Surekha Sources told TNIE that minisLikely new ters Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, inductees Ponnam Prabhakar, Jupally Krishna Rao and Konda Surekha may be n  Komatireddy asked to step down. Those being Rajagopal Reddy considered for induction include n  Beerla Ilaiah Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, n  Srinivas Aadi Beerla Ilaiah, Aadi Srinivas, B Man Mahesh Kumar Goud B hesh Kumar Goud, K Madan Mon Madan Mohan Rao K han Rao and Balu Naik. A senior minister said speculan  Naik Balu tion is widespread within the parPortfolios likely ty and many expect an expansion , to be reassigned aimed at ensuring stability over n  Finance: the next three years. Several key D Sridhar Babu (from portfolios like Finance, Revenue, Bhatti Vikramarka) Home, Education, Information n  Home: Bhatti Technology, Commercial Taxes, Vikramarka (currently and Municipal and Urban Developwith CM) ment may be reassigned to senior n  Irrigation / leaders. Civil Supplies: Among BC legislators, TPCC Komatireddy chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud is beRajagopal Reddy or ing seen as a possible replacement Ponguleti for minister Ponnam Prabhakar. If n  Revenue: N Uttam Konda Surekha is dropped, Aadi Kumar Reddy Srinivas and Beerla Ilaiah from the Munnuru Kapu and Yadav n  / Industries: K IT communities may be Madan Mohan Rao or another minister (in accommodated. case not retained by Jupally Krishna Rao may be reSridhar Babu) placed by Yellareddy MLA K Madan Mohan Rao. The party ren  Commercial Taxes cently appointed Mancherial MLA to be given to a new K Prem Sagar Rao as Civil Supminister (currently with CM) plies Corporation chairman from the same community . As per district representation, erstwhile Nizamabad currently has no minister, and Mahesh Kumar Goud or Madan Mohan Rao may be inducted if the high command accepts the proposal. If Ponnam Prabhakar exits the Cabinet, Aadi Srinivas may be given a berth to balance representation from the erstwhile Karimnagar district.  continued on P3 inside COLOUR AND SONG RETURN TO CLIMATE TALKS IN bRAZIL I P9 Cong wakes up to SIR concerns after Bihar rout, calls meeting PR E E THA N AIR @ 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 Party leaders, and secretaries of the 12 States and UTs, will be held at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday . The November 18 meeting is expected to assess 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 oppositionruled states. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala have escalated their objections to the move, with some even exploring legal options. 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 voterlist issues, and alliance coordination.