HIGHLIGHTS

BOM9 MH-CM-DEORA Will welcome Deora if he joins Shiv Sena, says CM Shinde Mumbai Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday was evasive on former Union minister Milind Deora, who quit the Congress earlier in the day, joining the Shiv Sena but said his party will welcome him if he chooses to do so.

Following are the top stories at 2.35 pm: NATION DEL13 CONG-LD YATRA **** Rahul Gandhi set to embark on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur Imphal: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on Sunday embark on his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from violence-hit Manipur as the party looks to set the narrative in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls by putting the spotlight on issues such as unemployment, price rise and social justice. **** BOM5 MH-DEORA-CONGRESS **** Congress leader Milind Deora quits party, likely to join Shinde-led Sena Mumbai: Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday said he had resigned from the primary membership of the party. **** DEL10 JAIRAM-YATRA-INTERVIEW **** 'Tiger zinda hai': Jairam Ramesh rejects BJP's claims of 2024 being done deal Imphal: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has rejected the BJP's claims that the 2024 poll results are a foregone conclusion, saying ''Tiger zinda hai'' and that the opposition bloc will repeat the history of 2004 when the saffron party was unseated from power despite its 'shining India' campaign. By Asim Kamal **** DEL9 CONG-DEORA-LD REAX **** Cong on Milind Deora's resignation: PM's 'headline management' to counter Yatra, will have no impact Imphal: With its senior leader Milind Deora resigning just before the start of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the timing of the announcement of his departure from the party was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for headline management to counter the yatra, and asserted that it will have no impact. **** BOM9 MH-CM-DEORA **** Will welcome Deora if he joins Shiv Sena, says CM Shinde Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday was evasive on former Union minister Milind Deora, who quit the Congress earlier in the day, joining the Shiv Sena but said his party will welcome him if he chooses to do so. **** DEL18 AIR QUALITY-BAN **** Delhi-NCR air pollution: Centre bans non-essential construction work, plying of polluting 4-wheelers New Delhi: The central government on Sunday ordered a ban on non-essential construction work and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR amid worsening air quality in the region. **** DEL20 CONG-EXITS-YOUNG LEADERS **** Milind Deora latest young Cong leader to leave party for greener pastures New Delhi: Former Union minister and ex-MP from Mumbai South Milind Deora's resignation from the Congress on Sunday is the latest addition to a list of young leaders who have left it to begin new innings in other parties, predominantly the BJP. **** BOM10 MH-DYNASTY-CM-UDDHAV **** Dynasty politics: Party needed well-educated, young face, says Shinde on son's LS ticket Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday hit back at Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray over the latter's statements on dynastic politics. **** LEGAL LGD1 SC-CHANDRABABU **** Skill Development case: SC to deliver verdict on Chandrababu Naidu's plea on Jan 16 New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver on January 16 its verdict on former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's plea challenging the high court order refusing to quash the FIR against him in the Skill Development Corporation scam case. **** FOREIGN FGN19 WEF-DAVOS-MEETING **** Macron, Li Qiang, Zelenskyy to take part in WEF Davos meet; Irani, Vaishnaw, Puri to represent India Davos: Grappling for answers to crises ranging from climate to conflicts to fake news, more than 2,800 leaders from around the world, including India, have begun gathering in this Alpine resort town for an annual five-day talkathon. By Barun Jha **** **** FGN8 MALDIVES-MUIZZU-MAYORAL-POLL Maldives President Muizzu's party loses Male Mayoral poll amid diplomatic row with India Male: In a setback to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, the pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has secured a landslide victory in the capital Male's Mayoral election. **** **** FGN18 US-TRUMP-RAMASWAMY Trump criticises Ramaswamy publicly ahead of Iowa caucus Washington: Former US president Donald Trump for the first time has lashed out at his rival Vivek Ramaswamy, who is most closely aligned with him in the race for the Republican nomination, accusing the Indian-American entrepreneur of engaging in "deceitful campaign tricks''. ****