The advertisements of Karnataka’s Congress government in Telangana dailies have been banned by the Election Commission  ahead of assembly polls in the southern state. The poll body’s decision came in response to a complaint by the BJP, which is trying to carve a niche in the state, and the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi of K Chandrashekar Rao.

The Election Commission has issued notice to the Principal Secretary of Karnataka government and sought a reply by 5 pm tomorrow.

It has asked why action should not be taken against the Information Department officer in view of the Model Code of Conduct in place in Telangana.

In its complaint, the BJP — which has tied up with actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena — alleged that the Congress was misusing public money to influence elections.

The Congress has won the assembly election in Karnataka held earlier this year, ousting the BJP from power in the only southern state it ruled.

Over the weekend, the Election Commission had withdrawn the permission to the Telangana government to provide financial aid to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme, after a state minister made a public announcement about it. The poll body said it was a violation of the Model Code.

“There shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the Model Code of Conduct in the State of Telangana ceases to apply in all its forms,” the Commission had said.

Ahead of the election, the move was a huge setback to the BRS government, which is hoping for a third consecutive term in power in India’s youngest state.

Elections are due in Telangana on Thursday. The votes will be counted on Sunday, December 3, along with votes from four other states.

Currently, Alia Bhatt is filming for Jigra, helmed by Vasan Bala. Notably, she’s co-producing the movie alongside Karan Johar. Alia had previously announced the project, expressing her excitement about this new venture. Reflecting on her journey from debuting in a Dharma production to now co-producing a film with them, she mentioned feeling a sense of coming full circle.

The film has generated significant buzz among fans, and the latest news swirling around involves Sobhita Dhulipala joining the cast. Speculation began when Alia recently followed the Made In Heaven actor on Instagram, further fueled by a post on X hinting at Sobhita’s involvement. However, there’s no official confirmation yet, leaving fans in anticipation.

Alia shared that since signing onto Jigra, she and Ranbir have coordinated their schedules, ensuring one of them is always with their daughter, Raha. As Alia primarily engages in night shoots for the film, she’s been able to spend ample daytime hours with Raha, albeit sacrificing some sleep to balance her commitments.

Neena Gupta recently expressed her disappointment about missing out on a role in Tenet, revealing that Dimple Kapadia secured the part without meeting director Christopher Nolan in LA. In a conversation, Gupta candidly discussed the struggles faced by outsiders in Bollywood and the hurdles in securing significant roles due to industry biases.

Despite her impressive background as a National School of Drama graduate, Gupta revealed feeling like an outsider even after spending four decades in the industry. She expressed initial hopes of more opportunities after her Hindi film debut but expressed frustration over the limited chances that came her way.

The 64-year-old actress opened up about instances where she felt her opinions were sidelined, noting the industry’s preference for more prominent co-stars’ concerns over hers. Gupta also spoke about her ongoing battle with rejection, sharing her experiences of auditions and frequent setbacks.

Gupta shared her attempt to secure a role in Tenet, recounting her trip to LA to meet Christopher Nolan, only to see the part go to Dimple Kapadia, who didn’t make the same journey.