www.thestatesman.com | India’s National Newspaper since 1818 @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: | Pages 16 8th Day | ` 5.00 @thestatesmanltd | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI Evolve A poet’s powerful collection of Bengali verses | BHUBANESWAR | 14 December 2025 S P O RT S 3rd T20I: Shubman Gill on the edge as India’s T20I experiments near deadline Maldives, Reimagined: Of Stillness, Salt, and Slow Discovery Page 16 Messi mania sparks chaos after fans miss out Pankaj Chaudhary set to be next UP BJP president: Lucknow: Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, set to become the next Uttar Pradesh BJP President, with the party High Command appointing a Kurmi leader in the state organisation for the fifth time. Choudhury is the only candidate to file his nominations for the post in 4 sets here at the state party headquarters on Saturday afternoon. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his 2 deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, outgoing President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, former union minister Smriti Irani, along with a couple of ministers, were the proposers in the nomination papers and were present when Chaudhary handed over the papers to election officers Mahendra Nath Pandey and Vinod Tawde. Page 4 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 13 December T he Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata w i t n e s s e d unprecedented chaos on Saturday as thousands of football fans, who had gathered to catch a glimpse of Argentine football icon Lionel Andrés Messi erupted in protest after failing to see their idol despite paying hefty ticket prices. Bucket seats, VIP sofas and other fixtures were vandalised, and in some sections fires were also set during the unrest.The situation spiralled out of control, turning the iconic stadium into a virtual battleground and forcing the organisers to cut short Messi’s visit. Police later arrested the main organiser of the event while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered a probe into the mismanagement that led to the chaos. From the early hours of the morning, braving the December chill, fans had queued up outside the stadium to see Messi in person. Many claimed they had spent between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 on tickets. However, disappointment soon turned into anger when Messi remained largely obscured by a heavy VIP presence on the field. Messi arrived at the stadium on schedule and entered the ground along with fellow footballers Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. Although the World Cup-winning captain waved at the spectators with a smile, fans seated in the galleries alleged that they could barely see him due to UDF registers thumping victory in Kerala local body polls; BJP scripts history in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Thiruvananthapuram, 13 December The results in the local body elections in Kerala have come as a setback for the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state ahead of assembly elections next year, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) registering a thumping victory in both rural and urban civic bodies The BJP-led NDA, meanwhile, made history by registered a resounding victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Muncipal Corporation, by winning 50 seats in the 101-member municipal corporation in Kerala's capital city. The municipal corporation was seen as a Left bastion. In the outgoing 100-member corporation, the CPM had 51 seats, the BJP-led NDA 35 and the UDF 10. In these elections, with the seats now 101, the NDA won 50 seats, the LDF 29, and the UDF 19, with the remaining two going to Independents. The UDF has won in four out of six Municipal Corporations: Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kannur. The LDF retained Kozhikode, Growing trend of senior IAS officers opting for VRS in UP raises concerns in administrative circles STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Lucknow, 13 December There appears to be no let-up in the trend of senior IAS officers from the Uttar Pradesh cadre opting for voluntary retirement (VRS) and resignation. In recent years, nearly a dozen IAS officers have left the service, and this number is expected to increase further in the coming months. Despite this, the state government has not yet made any clear response to this trend. The latest case involves Anamika Singh, a 2004 batch IAS officer, who has applied for VRS. A senior official confirmed that her application is under process and clarified that she had not applied for a central deputation. However, administrative sources say that discontent is growing among several Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officers regarding their underrepresentation at the central level. Officers claim that many proposals for central deputation are not being approved by the state government and that the IN RECENT YEARS, NEARLY A DOZEN IAS OFFICERS HAVE LEFT THE SERVICE, AND THIS NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE FURTHER IN THE COMING MONTHS. DESPITE THIS, THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET MADE ANY CLEAR RESPONSE TO THIS TREND. empanelment process at the Centre is also becoming more difficult. Recently, Amod Kumar, a senior IAS officer of the 1995 batch, also resigned. Those who have previously taken VRS include Vikas Gothalwal (batch 2003), Vidya Bhushan (2008), G. Srinivasulu (2005), Rajiv Agarwal (1993), Mohammad Mustafa (1995), Rigzin Samphel (2003), Renuka Kumar (1987), and Juthika Patankar (1988). Rakesh Verma and RP Singh have also left the service. Meanwhile, Abhishek Singh, a 2011 batch IAS officer, recently resigned. Notably, G. Srinivasulu later withdrew his VRS application and rejoined the service. According to a senior IAS officer, “Most of the officers who received central deputation in recent months were posted in important locations like Varanasi or Ayodhya. Better coordination with the central government during these postings increased their chances of selection.” Another officer said: “We regularly apply for central deputation, but the state government doesn't grant permission, citing a shortage in the state cadre. This has stalled our career progression, which is very frustrating.” Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh IAS Association, which previously raised cadre-related issues with the government, has not commented on this matter publicly. For the past few years, the association has also been unable to hold its ‘Service Week,’ which used to be an important platform for officers to voice their concerns. Senior officers say that during the annual general meeting of the IAS Association held during ‘Service Week,’ officers used to speak freely, but this is now a thing of the past. whereas the BJP-led NDA has wrested Thiruvananthapuram from LDF. Out of the 941 panchayats, the UDF won 499 while LDF secured 341.The NDA is ahead in 26 panchayats.Among the 152 Block panchayats, the UDF won 71 while LDF secured 64. Of the 14 district panchayats, the UDF and LDF shared seven each. Among the 87 municipalities, the UDF and LDF won 54 and 28 respectively, and the NDA won two. A few of the BJP's remarkable wins in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation include its possible mayor candidates, ex-DGP R Sreelekha in Sasthamangalam and VV Rajesh in Kodunganoor wards. However, one of the BJP's star candidates, Padmini Thomas, faced a bitter result in the Palayam ward. The BJP-led NDA secured a victory in Munambam, where around 600 families were on a protest against the claim by the state Waqf Board over their residences and property. The ward had earlier been held by the Congress, making this win significant for the BJP-led alliance. Kerala BJP general secretary Anoop Antony Joseph called the result historic. In a post on social media, he said the Modi government and the BJP stood with the people of Munambam in their fight against the Waqf Board. He added that voters had now returned that support through the ballot. the crowd of nearly 150 people surrounding him on the field. Most of those surrounding Messi were taking selfies with him, spurring people's anger. As soon as Messi left the ground, anger exploded. Angry fans began throwing bottles onto the field. Some tore down banners bearing Messi’s image, while others broke through barricades and rushed onto the ground. Plastic chairs in the galleries were smashed and hurled onto the field. The players’ tunnel and canopy also suffered extensive damage during the vandalism. Police resorted to a baton charge to regain control of the situation and disperse the unruly crowd. Security personnel struggled for several minutes to contain the chaos. Sensing the growing unrest, the organisers escorted Messi out of the ground ahead of the scheduled time. He left the stadium swiftly and proceeded directly to the airport. • Another report: Pg 16 Mamata announces probe into stadium chaos, apologises to fans Kolkata: Chief Minister I sincerely Mamata Banerjee on apologise to Saturday ordered an inquiry into the mayhem Messi, as well as to all that broke out at a sports lovers and his near-capacity Salt Lake fans, for this Stadium this morning when disappointed fans unfortunate vandalised the venue incident. after football legend Lionel Messi’s visit to the MAMATA BANERJEE stadium. A three-member CHIEF MINISTER, WEST BENGAL panel has been constituted, led by former Justice Ashim Kumar Roy, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Hill Affairs as members.Miss Banerjee, who was scheduled to attend the programme to felicitate Messi had to skip the event following the chaos. She blamed bungling on the part of the organisers that led to the disorder. The Chief Minister took to her official X handle to express her disgust and apologise to fans. She announced a thorough inquiry by the panel into the mismanagement. In her post, Miss Banerjee wrote:“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to see Lionel Messi. I sincerely apologise to Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for this unfortunate incident.” ‘Thank you Thiruvananthapuram!’ says PM Modi on BJP’s ‘watershed’ moment in Kerala STATESMAN NEW SERVICE New Delhi, 13 December Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday thanked the people of Thiruvananthapuram, calling the BJP-led NDA's victory in the local body elections in the state capital as a “watershed moment in Kerala’s politics”. “Thank you Thiruvananthapuram! The mandate the BJP-NDA got in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics. The people are certain that the development aspirations of the state can only be addressed by our Party. Our Party will work towards this vibrant city’s growth and boost ‘Ease of Living’ for the people,” he wrote on X following the BJP’s breakthrough in the Left Democratic Front-dominated Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation. Analysts are seeing the NDA victory in one of the few remaining Left bastions and ending the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) 45-year dominance in Kerala capital, as a major morale booster for the saffron party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections; adding a new dimension in the state's bipolar politics dominated by the LDF and the UDF. “Kerala is fed up of UDF and LDF,” PM Modi wrote following the NDA's gains in Kerala, including in the Tripunithura Municipality. “My gratitude to the people across Kerala who voted for BJP and NDA candidates in the local body polls in the state. Kerala is fed up of UDF and LDF. They see NDA as the only option that can deliver on good governance and build a #VikasitaKeralam with opportunities for all,” he said. Shah reaffirms March 2026 deadline to end Maoist insurgency, unveils development roadmap for Bastar SHISHIR ROY CHOWDHURY Jagdalpur, 13 December Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that Maoist violence would be eliminated from Bastar and the rest of the country by 31 March 2026, declaring that India is now “standing at the threshold” of becoming free from Left Wing Extremism. Addressing the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics 2025 in Jagdalpur, Mr Shah said the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government were working in close coordination to ensure that peace, development and opportunity replace decades of conflict in the region. With Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma present, Mr Shah said the government’s resolve was not limited to ending violence but extended to transforming Bastar into one of the country’s most developed tribal regions by December 2030. He outlined an expansive vision covering the seven districts of Bastar division, Kanker, Kondagaon, Bastar, Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur and Dantewada, promising universal access to housing, electricity, toilets, piped drinking water, cooking gas, free food grains and healthcare of up to �5 lakh per family. Reiterating the Centre’s long term commitment, Mr Shah said every village in Bastar would be connected by roads, banking facilities would be available within a five kilometre radius, and a dense network of primary and community health centres would be established. He also announced plans to set up cooperative based units for forest produce processing, expand dairy activity to boost rural incomes, develop new industries, strengthen higher education facilities, and build a modern sports complex and advanced hospitals in the region. Special schemes to address malnutrition and an enhanced rehabilitation package for surrendered Maoists and those injured due to insurgency related violence were also highlighted. Referring to the Bastar Olympics as a symbol of changing ground realities, Mr Shah said the 2025 edition featured teams from all seven districts, along with a special team comprising surrendered Maoists. He described the participation of more than 700 former cadres as a powerful message of reintegration and hope. “These young people chose hope over fear, unity over division, and development over destruction,” he said, urging those still involved in violence to lay down arms and join the mainstream under the government’s rehabilitation policy. Mr Shah noted a sharp rise in participation at the event, with nearly 3.91 lakh athletes taking part this year compared to 1.65 lakh last year, and said women’s participation had increased nearly threefold. He added that teams from the Sports Authority of India were present to identify talent and groom promising athletes for national and international competitions, including future Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. He also said Chhattisgarh had been selected to host the Khelo India Tribal Games, reflecting growing national recognition of Bastar’s sporting potential.