Highlights of India Today 23rd January 2016, issue:

The cover story this week is a special package on the upcoming Assembly elections in 5 states - Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

The lead story, Modi's Class Card, looks at whether the BJP's bid to project Modi as the messiah of the poor will find traction in the high-stakes battle for Uttar Pradesh.

The nation story, Bridging the Gap, talks about Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's novel project - Seva Setu - that brings the state's schemes for the poor right to their doorstep.

The Big Story titled 'The Red River Runs Dry' is on Maoists and looks at how PM Modi's demonetisation move has paralysed the Naxal extortion economy in Jharkhand.

The Special Story, The Gathering Storm, is on the Supreme Court and how it is locked in battle with the government over the judicial appointments issue. The story looks at how the coming months will test Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar's leadership.

With Tigers making frequent forays into urban areas around Bhopal, the special story, Tracking the Big Cats, looks at increasing man-animal conflict and how, thankfully, there have been no human or feline casualties so far.

The issue also comes with a free magazine: Simply Chennai