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 ■ ■ THRISSUR l friday l January 23, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION Twenty20 set to begin new innings with NDA An injured jawan being taken to a hospital after an Army truck plunged into a deep gorge in J&K’s Doda district on Thursday, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 | PTI | P10 India skips Board of Peace launch China, France, UK, Germany and Italy, too, give the event a miss; Pak PM Shehbaz shows up E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram Springing a major surprise on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has roped in Twenty20 into its fold. With a few months to go for the assembly election, the induction marked a significant strategic shift from the Kitex group-backed party’s earlier inde pendent approach. Twenty20 will join the NDA fold in the presence of Modi at a party programme in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday . The announcement was made by BJP state president R a j e e v C h a n d r a s e k h a r, flanked by Twenty20 president Sabu M Jacob, at a joint press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday . The BJP hopes to make a significant impact in central Kerala through its alliance with the regional outfit, which holds substantial sway in several pockets of Ernakulam district. The BJP assesses that the tie-up will help improve NDA’s prospects in the neighbouring districts too. Also, fielding Twenty20 candidates under the NDA fold would help it make further inroads into cer- Board’s broad mandate could eclipse UN’s role J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi Twenty20 president Sabu M Jacob and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar during a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday | Express PM may announce high-speed rail project today T’Puram: PM Narendra Modi is expected to announce a high speed rail project in the state — which has been approved by the Centre — at an event in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. The new project effectively overrides the controversial SilverLine. The PM will also flag off three Amrit Bharat Express trains and a passenger train at the event. He will also lay foundation stone for a host of developments projects. P7 tain community strongholds. Moreover, the party’s pro-investment motto would align well with the BJP’s ‘Vikasitha Keralam’ narrative. Briefing the media, Rajeev said the NDA aims to bring a change in the state’s political culture, which he alleged had been adversely affected over the years. He said Twenty20, since its formation, has been practising a development-oriented model. Describing Sabu as a job-creating entrepreneur, Chandrasekhar said he was forced to move out of Kerala and establish industries in Telangana, where he created thousands of jobs.  ● More on P6 Thamarakshan-led JSS faction joins NDA CPM leader Suja joins Muslim League T’Puram: A faction of the Janathipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) led by five-time MLA A V Thamarakshan joined the BJP-led NDA, on Thursday. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed Thamarakshan at a meeting of the saffron alliance in Thiruvananthapuram. Kollam: A week after senior leader Aisha Potty joined the Congress, the CPM in Kollam faced yet another setback when its district committee member Suja Chandrababu joined IUML on Thursday. Suja received membership from IUML chief Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal. INDIA was among the notable absentees when US President Donald Trump unveiled on Thursday his Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, an initiative Washington is projecting as a new international body to help cement the fragile Gaza ceasefire and potentially address conflicts elsewhere. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to join the board, but New Delhi has yet to take a decision. “India is considering various aspects as the initiative involves sensitive issues. We are examining the invite,” sources said. Trump said the board could become “one of the most consequential bodies ever created,” and added he was “honoured” to chair it. “Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do. And we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,” he said, arguing the The board’s mandate may stretch beyond Gaza, prompting concerns it could undercut the UN’s role as the primary forum for global diplomacy. Its charter describes it as “an international organisation that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure peace” US President Donald Trump holds up a signed Board of Peace charter on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, on Thursday | AP UN’s “great potential” had not been fully utilised. The announcement, made during a signing ceremony in Davos, drew mixed response. Regional powers such as Turkey Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar , and the United Arab Emirates, along with Jordan, Indonesia and Pakistan, joined the board. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present. However, China and several major global powers and traditional Western US allies including France, the UK, Germany and , Italy skipped the ceremony . US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the board’s immediate focus would be Gaza. “The priority is making sure the plan for peace in Gaza is fulfilled, but it can also serve as an example of what’s possible in other parts of the world.” The White House has already announced a founding executive board to operationalise the initiative. It includes Rubio, exBritish PM Tony Blair, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, World Bank president Ajay Banga, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel Jr.  Major U.S. allies wary: P11 Bangladesh defies ICC, won’t play in India G O M E S H S @ Chennai Bangladesh have reiterated their stance that they will not be travelling to India for the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup. This comes a day after the International Cricket Council gave Bangladesh Cricket Board an ultimatum, upholding the original tournament schedule. It is understood that as of late on Thursday there has not , been any movement in the ICC. There is a possibility that if Bangladesh is not allowed to play Scotland could be , replacing them. On Thursday after talking to the government and top cricketers, national government sports adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters that the government has decided not to play in India. “It is the government’s decision not to play in India due to security concerns,” he said in Dhaka. He accused the ICC of not delivering justice as they remain hope- ful of playing the matches in Sri Lanka despite the risk of being excluded from the tournament. “I think we did not get justice from ICC. Whether we will play in the World Cup or not is entirely a government decision.” BCB president Aminul Islam said that they will go back to ICC with the plan of playing in Sri Lanka. Mission Samriddhi We stand in gratitude with those who protect India’s borders, people, and future. You protect our nation. Let us help navigate your financial life. Mission Samriddhi An investor education and awareness initiative specially for our armed forces. Call the dedicated missed call number today. 73581 12345 Mutual Fund Benefits Professional Fund Management Diversified Portfolio Flexibility to Choose Investment Amount An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative Visit https://www.hdfcfund.com/information/key-know-how to know more about the process to complete a one-time Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement to invest in Mutual Funds. Investors should only deal with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website (www.sebi.gov.in/intermediaries.html). 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