-Outlook Porbandar (Gujarat): Gangs and musclemen could play a dominant role in elections in some assembly constituencies of Bhavnagar, Porbandar, the birthplace of apostle of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi, and Rajkot districts of SAUrashtra region of Gujarat. Porbandar has been a hotbed of criminal activities in recent times where late Santokben Jadeja had emerged as 'Godmother'. Ganglords of Porbandar are once again are in electoral fray. Another constituency where political power has been shaped...

-The Hindustan Times Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, who recently took a dig at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks that the UPA government is "brain-dead", showered lavish praises on the chief minister on Thursday even describing her as a role model of political mobilisation in Maoist-affected areas. "I wish other chief ministers follow Banerjee's political approach for Maoist-affected areas. She has transformed the Jangalmahal area of her...

On November 23, the Supreme Court is slated to hear a damning report submitted by the court-appointed Commissioners on how politically connected contractors—legally barred from the ICDS program—might be subverting the social welfare measure in the state of Maharashtra.  The ICDS is an Rs 8000 crore government-funded program aimed at ending India’s abysmal rates of child malnutrition by supplying hot cooked meals and take home rations to children through decentralised women-run,...

-The Hindu Cyclone ‘Nilam' caused unprecedented damage to Srikakulam district which is still under grip of fear with the heavy inflows to Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers. Bahuda and Mahendra Tanaya rivers are also in full spate with heavy rains in the catchment area of Odisha. Almost 80, 000 acres of crop got damaged and 43 villages were inundated in the district. The officials of all the mandals have been alerted to...

-NDTV Mumbai: In a grim reminder of the continuing misery of the poor in India, a report by a Supreme Court panel has revealed widespread irregularities in the production and supply of food for malnourished children in Maharashtra. While private contractors illegally supplied food and made massive profits, the poor children, who were entitled to the benefit under the anganwadi scheme, were fed stale and low-quality food. The shocking revelations are part...