HIGHLIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION

Following are the highlights at 1700 hours:

TOP STORIES:

ELX43 POLL-LD CONGRESS

As Cong inches towards majority in Raj, C'garh, its leaders say trends indication of things to come

New Delhi: Voters had clearly rejected the BJP in what was an indication of things to come in 2019, Congress leaders said on Tuesday as trends showed the party ahead in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and locked in a tantalising, see-saw battle in Madhya Pradesh.

MDS31 TL-5THLD POLL

TRS secures majority in Telangana, heads for landslide

Hyderabad: The TRS will form its second successive government in Telangana where it has won a simple majority and is heading for a landslide with its candidates clinching 60 seats and leading in 27 others, in a resounding endorsement of its chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's popularity.

 

ELX52 POLL-MZ 2NDLD RESULTS

MNF bounces back to power in Mizoram; Cong suffers 'humiliating' defeat

Aizawl: The Mizo National Front returned to power in Mizoram after 10 years Tuesday, capturing 21 seats in the 40-member Assembly and inflicting a humiliating defeat on the Congress.

MNF is ahead in five other seats, Election Commission (EC) sources said.

ELX51 POLL-RJ-LD RESULTS

Rajasthan: Congress wins 5, leading on 98; BJP wins 4, leading on 64

Jaipur:The Congress is heading towards victory in Rajasthan where it has won five seats and leading on 98 seats while the ruling BJP has won four and leading on 64 seats out of the 199 seats which went to polls.

ELX54 RJ-CLP-MEETING

Cong's CLP meet on Wednesday

Jaipur: The Congress in Rajasthan will hold its legislature party meeting here on Wednesday to decided on who will be the chief minister.

DEL31 JK-POLICE-LD ATTACK

Three policemen killed in Shopian by terrorists; weapons snatched

Srinagar: Three policemen were killed Tuesday when Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a guard post outside a minority pocket in south Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said.

BOM17 POLL-CG-4THLD TREND

Congress looks set to end Raman reign in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: The Congress appeared all set to shatter BJP leader Raman Singh's dream of a consecutive fourth term as Chhattisgarh chief minister, as per early trends for the state Assembly elections.

DEL15 POLL-RAJNATH

Polls were fought on state govts' performance: Rajnath

New Delhi: With election trends showing reverses for the BJP, senior party leader and Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said the polls were fought on the basis of the performance of state governments, rejecting the notion that the results would be a reflection on the Modi government.

DEL9 PM-SESSION

Winter Session: PM urges political parties to take up issues of public interest

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday urged all parties to utilise the Winter Session of Parliament for public interest rather than political interests.

NATION:

ELX36 POL-MAMATA

Semifinal proves BJP is nowhere: Mamata Banerjee on poll results

New Delhi: Reacting to election trends, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said the BJP was nowhere in the "semi-final" ahead of the "final match" in 2019 and people were always the "man of the match" in a democracy.

DEL17 BIZ-RBI-GOVT

Govt likely to make announcement on RBI soon: Finance Secretary

New Delhi:The government is likely to make an announcement regarding Urjit Patel's successor as Reserve Bank of India's Governor later in the day, Finance Secretary A N Jha said.

LEGAL:

LGD29 DL-COURT-LD CHOPPER

VVIP Chopper case: Court allows CBI plea to take Michel's signature, handwriting samples

New Delhi: A Delhi court Tuesday allowed the CBI plea seeking permission to take signature and handwriting samples of Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman who has been chargesheeted and arrested in the graft-tainted AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.

LGD19 SC-2NDLD KALBURGI

CBI probe into activists' murders: SC says one agency can investigate if there's common thread

New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Tuesday that if there is a "common thread" among the murders of social activists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, journalist Gauri Lankesh and rationalist M M Kalburgi, then one agency can investigate all the four cases.

LGD18 SC-LD VICTIM IDENTITY

Rape victims treated as 'untouchables', says SC; directs their identities be not disclosed

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday said it was "unfortunate" that rape victims were being treated as "untouchables" in society while directing that names and identities of victims of rape and sexual assault should not be disclosed or revealed.

FOREIGN:

FGN11 PAK-INDIA-AFGHANISTAN

India's role crucial for Afghan peace process: Pakistan

Islamabad: Probably for the first time, Pakistan has acknowledged that India has stakes in Afghanistan and its cooperation is necessary for the peace process in the war-torn country.By Sajjad Hussain.

SPORTS:

SPF13 SPO-IND-LANGER

India outplayed us in series opener: Langer

Adelaide: Australian coach Justin Langer has praised the tough attitude of his young side in the 31-run loss in the first Test against India, but added that the visitors thoroughly outplayed them in the series opener of the four-match series.By Chetan Narula.