Can the populist push and publicity blitz help Gehlot retain Rajasthan?

Bless me, oh rival!: With the polling now over in Chhattisgarh, many of the candidates are seeking divine intervention to ensure their victory. Prominent leaders, including the state presidents of both the Congress and the BJP, recently visited famous temples. Among them was the BJP’s Brijmohan Agrawal, the candidate from Raipur (South). He visited a well-known temple in Rajim and while in the town had a chance meeting with the head of the Dudhadhari Math, Mahant Ram Sundar Das. Agrawal immediately dived for the mahant’s feet and sought his blessings. It seems like the logical thing to do, given the context. But, the mahant was the Congress candidate who contested against Agrawal | Illustrations by Job P.K.

Betting big: Madhya Pradesh, and perhaps the entire country, is waiting with bated breath for the results of the assembly polls and the fate of the big leaders like former chief minister Kamal Nath. But no one might have more interest in Nath’s electoral outcome than a friend of an electricity contractor in Chhindwara, Nath’s home turf. The contractor is so confident that Nath will win that he has, on a legal document, promised to pay 010 lakh to his friend if Nath loses. Under the bet, the contractor will get 01 lakh from the friend if Nath wins. Though there is a question about the legality of the bet, it does show the intensity of political debate in the state.

Eager attendees: Rajasthan recently saw an interesting mix of politics and weddings. The auspicious period for weddings as per Hindu tradition began on November 23, the same day the campaign for the election came to an end and two days before polling. There were 50,000 weddings in the state on that day, with 5,000 in Jaipur alone. Unsurprisingly, many candidates made it a point to attend weddings in their constituencies. What better way to show the voters that their future representative would be present.

Dynamic pairing: Actors Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte are teaming up for Akka, “an edgy revenge thriller”. The project, helmed by debutant writer and director Dharmaraj Shetty, is being produced by YRF Entertainment. Shetty was discovered by Aditya Chopra, who could not be more thrilled about Akka and wants to make it one of YRF’s biggest tent-pole series. Suresh and Apte are considered to be two of the most talented actors in Indian cinema. Together, theirs might be an irresistible combo deal | Getty Images, AFP

Star power: This edition of the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival is showcasing some serious star power, the latest being Alia Bhatt, who has been roped in as its advocate. Earlier, Hollywood actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio had announced that two documentary films supported by him would have their India premiere at the ALT EFF 2023. This is the fourth year of the festival, scheduled to take place from December 1 to 10. It is being held in over 20 Indian cities and will showcase films from across 50 countries | AFP

Fodder for humour: It’s confirmed! Emmy winner Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars for the fourth time after 2017, 2018 and 2023. He thus joins the elite club of fourth-timers which includes Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon. The only ones to host the awards more times are Johnny Carson (5), Billy Crystal (9), and Bob Hope (11). The 96th Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre on March 10. So will there be any bloopers like the La La Land and Moonlight best picture mix-up of 2017? Even if not, Kimmel is likely to mine a joke or two out of it | Shutterstock

Bourne again: Isn’t it great that a new Jason Bourne movie is in the works? All Quiet on the Western Front filmmaker Edward Berger is in talks to direct it. The previous five instalments of the Bourne franchise, starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in four of them, have been huge money spinners for Universal. And with Oscar-winner Berger onboard, things will be looking up for our very own CIA assassin—a character created by author Robert Ludlum | Getty Images