An aggregate of exit polls is predicting two strikes out of three in the heartland states for the BJP and one for the Congress. While Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel gets to retain his job, his counterpart in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, might just lose his, they indicate. There also seems a high possibility that Madhya Pradesh could  go to the BJP — again.

The biggest upset, though, could be reserved for Telangana, where K Chandrasekhar Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi has been in power since the inception of the state in 2014. NDTV Poll of Polls — an aggregate of seven exit polls — shows the Congress ahead in 62 of the state’s 119 seats, the BRS on  44. The BJP can win seven seats and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM five seats. The majority mark stands at 60.

For Mizoram, an aggregate of six exit polls indicate a hung house. Two exit polls predict the BJP-MNF’s ruling alliance have a slim chance of victory. Only one predict a sweep for the new party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM).

Exit polls, though, can often get it wrong.

An aggregate of nine exit polls on Chhattisgarh predict a second term for the Congress, which has been banking on Bhupesh Baghel’s report card for the last five years. The number of seats allotted to the party has been within the margin of early 40s to mid-50s. The majority mark in the 90-seat state stands at 46. NDTV Poll of Polls indicates that 49 seats can go to the Congress and 38 to the BJP.

Neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, though, could have bad news for the Congress, which might not be able to unseat Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BJP’s three-time Chief Minister came to power yet again in 2020 despite a defeat in 2018, with the crossing over of Congress’s Jyotiraditya Scindia and his 20-plus loyalists.

An aggregate of nine exit polls indicates that the BJP may wind up with 124 of the state’s 230 seats, where the majority mark is 116. The Congress may get 102 seats.

The most definitive verdict is from News 24-Today’s Chanakya, which gives BJP 151 seats, and the Congress 74. Others predict a tight race.

The election was, held amid much speculation of anti-incumbency against the BJP, which has largely ruled the state since 2004. With four terms under his belt, Mr Chouhan is one of the BJP’s longest-ruling Chief Ministers.

Rajasthan, which routinely votes out the incumbent since early ’90s, is apparently sticking to the custom, overturning Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s high hope of bucking the trend.

Seven of nine exit polls have predicted a comfortable victory for the BJP — only two offer Congress the hope that it might scrape through. Most exit polls expect the BJP numbers to stay above 100 in the 200-member house.

Though election had  taken place on 199 seats following the death of a Congress candidate, the majority mark will be 101.

NDTV Poll of Polls indicates indicate that the BJP can get 104 seats, the Congress 85.

In 40-seat Mizoram, only two of six exit polls predict that the BJP and its ally, the Mizo National Front, might make it to the seat of power again.

The aggregate of six exit polls indicates the ruling alliance can get 15 seats, the new Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) 17, which could put Congress, expected to win seven seats, in the position of the kingmaker.

The chances of hung house in the northeastern state run high, with a multi-cornered contest that included the rising ZPM, which projected a young face for the state’s top job. All exit polls have given the new party a chunk of seats, pushing the Congress to the third spot in the state. India-Today-Axis My India predicts a sweep for the ZPM.

Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party which also joined the race, could also bleed votes for the MNF, which won 26 of the 40 seats in the last election..

For the Congress, the real sweet spot in this election could be Telangana, next-door to Karnataka, where it won a huge victory earlier this year, beating the BJP hollow. The party had launched a high-octane campaign in Telangana since, under the upbeat leadership of its young state chief Revanth Reddy.

Telangana has been out of the Congress’s reach since 2014, when the state was carved out of Andhra Pradesh, despite its facilitating the formation from the Centre.

With K Chandrasekhar Rao, who led the statehood agitation, heading the Telangana Rashtra Samithi — now renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi in keeping with its leader’s national ambitions — there seemed little scope for the party to be dislodged from power.

The votes for this round of elections, dubbed the semi-final before the next year’s general election, will be counted on Sunday.

The results are expected to impact not just the BJP, which is hoping for a third straight term in 2024.

A positive outcome for the Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana can even raise its stocks within the INDIA alliance, giving it more heft ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Is there anything better than curling up in a blanket with a good Christmas movie as the weather outside gets chilly? Not really. Luckily there’s everything from cliche-filled rom-coms to animated specials to watch this season. As we inch closer to the holidays, here’s a list of 25 movies to watch in the days leading up to Christmas.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

The 1946 film is a classic starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and others. Stewart plays a kind man who in his darkest hour is reminded of all the good he has done for his small town. The film has a happy ending and a life-affirming message that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Love Actually (2003)

Love Actually has everything – a star-studded cast, an entertaining Christmas Stage show and an endearing Andrew Lincoln telling Kiera Knightley, “To me, you are perfect.” The film explores love and other complex modern relationships. The nine intertwined stories include that of a new Prime Minister, a graphic designer and a writer as they go about the holiday season.

Happiest Season (2020)

Happiest Season takes the quintessential plot of meeting the family and turns it into a joyful coming-out story. Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis play Abby and Harper, a couple set to spend Christmas at the latter’s family home. The catch, however, is that Harper hasn’t told her parents she is gay. It’s funny, heartwarming and stacked with stars including Aubrey Plaza and Dan Levy.

Love Hard (2021)

Starring The Vampire Diaries fame Nina Dobrev and Crazy Rich Asians star Jimmy O. Yang, Love Hard is a fun movie night watch. Its plot revolves around a woman who visits her online crush’s hometown for the Christmas holidays only to find out that she has been catfished. Apart from the shenanigans that ensue, the film also gives a hilarious woke update to the holiday song Baby It’s Cold Outside.

Single All the Way (2021)

In Single All the Way, Peter decides to take his best friend Nick to his hometown and pretend that they are dating just to have a drama-free holiday. However, things get complicated when Peter’s mother sets him up on a blind date. Here’s another movie that makes the Yuletide you know what.

Elf (2003)

When it comes to Christmas comedies, the 2003 film Elf has to make it to the list. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Will Farrell as Buddy, a man raised by elves. Upon learning that he is a human, he decides to make the trip out of the North Pole and meet his biological father who put him up for adoption after his mother’s death.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

There are several iterations of the popular Dr. Seuss book of the same name, but the 2000 film directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey is a classic in its own right. The film follows the titular Grinch, a mean creature who is bent on ruining Christmas for everyone in Whosville. Carrey’s over-the-top antics work in the film’s favour and make it a funny film full of heart.

A Christmas Prince (2017)

If you like the idea of a silly Christmas rom-com with the most unrealistic plot, A Christmas Prince is the movie for you. It follows a journalist who on an undercover assignment to shadow a prince, ends up finding love with the subject of her investigation. It’s as dreamy as it gets.

The Holiday (2006)

The idea of changing your whole life amidst holiday existentialism is appealing. In The Holiday, Cameron Diaz’s Amanda and Kate Winslet’s Iris swap homes during Christmas after facing heartbreak in their respective love lives. The move means more than just swapping homes. The film also features Jude Law and Black Jack as the male leads.

Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Home Alone is the ultimate Christmas classic. Starring Macaulay Culkin in his star-making role, the film revolves around a young boy from a large family who is left behind while his family goes on a Christmas holiday. With the threat of robbers, he comes up with clever tricks and traps to keep the criminals at bay.

Klaus (2019)

Amidst a slew of formulaic films full of Christmas cliches (not that we mind), Klaus is perhaps the most original holiday movie. Set in the fictional town of Smeerensburg, the film delves into the myth of Santa. It follows a postman who gets stationed on a snowy island where he meets a toymaker.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is as much a Christmas movie as it is a Halloween watch. Jack Skellington’s adventures as he visits Christmas Town and discovers the joys of the holiday for the first time is perhaps the best breakdown of the festival.

The Polar Express (2004)

All aboard The Polar Express! This classic about a young boy who embarks on a journey to the North Pole is a wholesome film about the spirit of Christmas.

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Sleepless in Seattle might be the best Christmas rom-com given that it stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as singles who coincidentally meet on Christmas Eve and begin a romance that leads them to a romantic meeting at the Empire State Building.

Bad Santa (2003)

If you’re looking for something out of the box for a non-traditional holiday watch, the black comedy Bad Santa might be right up your alley. The film revolves around professional thieves who are set to make the most of the holiday shopping spree.

Carol (2015)

Set during Christmas time in the 1950s, Carol is about two women from different backgrounds who end up in a whirlwind love affair. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara have great chemistry. Need we say more?

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Based on Charles Dickens’s novel of the same name, the animated classic has a star-studded voice cast including Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and more. It follows a stingy businessman Scrooge who is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past who alters his life.

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

Tokyo Godfathers is a life-affirming tragicomedy that sees three homeless people who find a newborn baby abandoned by its parents on Christmas Eve. They set out on a mission across Tokyo to get the baby home.

Four Christmases (2008)

In this comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, a couple tries to avoid meeting two sets of divorced parents but ends up having to visit each of the four parents.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Directed by James Gunn, the Marvel holiday special is full of heartwarming moments as Mantis and Drax set out to find the perfect Christmas present for Quill who is left devastated after Gamora’s loss.

Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)

Based on the Star Wars franchise, the animated movie sees Rey try to gain insights about the Force while learning about Life Day, the Galaxy’s equivalent of Christmas.

White Christmas (1954)

Another good old movie to settle down with is White Christmas, a 1954 film about a holiday show production amidst World War II.

Holiday Inn (1942)

The musical film starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale. It follows members of a song and dance act who fall in and out of love amidst holiday cheer.

Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)

Meet Me In St.Louis is an unmissable classic musical starring Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien. It traces the lives of four sisters as they navigate love and life

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Sandra Bullock starrer While You Were Sleeping is an underrated Christmas-set rom-com about a Transit Authority ticket booth worker who is mistaken for the fiance of a patient in a coma.

Revanth Reddy said the Congress will get over 80 seats and will implement the six guarantees in the first Cabinet meeting of the new government.

​ 

Telangana Election: Get Latest News on Telangana Assembly Election along with Updates on Schedule and Result Date | Hindustan Times 

Revanth Reddy said the Congress will get over 80 seats and will implement the six guarantees in the first Cabinet meeting of the new government.